Linda Wanders
FabAcdemy 2014

about me
final project


wk1: principles & project management
wk2: computer-aided design
wk3: computer-controlled cutting: lasercutter
wk3: computer-controlled cutting: vinylcutter
wk4: electronics production
wk5: 3D scanning
wk5: 3D printing
wk6: electronics design
wk7: computer-controlled machining
wk8: embedded programming
wk9: molding and casting
wk10: input devices
wk11: composites
wk12: output devices
wk13: networking and communications
wk14: mechanical design, machine design
wk15: interface & application programming
wk16: applications and implications
wk17: invention, intellec. property & income
project development


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wk11 | composites


Assignment :

  • design & make a mold & produce a fiber composite part in it


Download : rhino and partworks - platter design files



My notes :

11 april 2014 | designing a mold

Since it's my first time making a 2 sided mold, I wanted to try out with a simple shape.
So I made a big flat bowl design in Rhino.


rhino-printsccreen

For the preparation in PartWorks3D we decided to use a the 1/2" straight fluut for the roughing and the finishing toolpath.
And to save some time in the finishing path, it only mills along the X axes (not a extra path along Y).
The estimated milling time (from start to finish) was now 1 hour and 18 minutes.


milling-foam

The finished result for this foam mold was a bit rougher then I expected, so I sanded it down a bit.
Then I painted 2 layers of white gesso on the mold. And by sanding it, it smoothed again.


gesso-etc

I don't have much burlap, used enough to cut out 2 circles and decided to cut stips of the leftovers.


paiting-burlap

Then clamping down the mold till the excess resin get's squeezed out.


drippings

All the drippings were expected, but what happened is that the gesso wasn't preventing the damage by the resin.
By the time the burlap was dry enough to be pulled away from the mold the resin had almost eaten trough the foam.


eaten

With a small saw I trimmed the edges, and sanded it again.
It smoothed a bit, but I was not able to remove the gesso paint flakes.


end-result

Ignoring the failed gesso, the end result was a solid shape of polyester resin and burlap.


end-result-2

To get the look a bit more finished, I painted it white again.
Now it serves as a platter for small laser cut showpieces.


end-result-white