Overview¶
This week is casting and molding. In essence, we will first use a CAD software like Fusion 360 to design a 3D mold. Next, we will be using the Bantam desktop CNC milling machine to create the designed mold inside a block of wax. Then, we will fill the molded wax with molten silicone, a flexible and stretch material. When the silicone solidified, it itself creates a mold. Finally, we will pour resin or some kind of epoxy into the silicone mold/container and let it dry, creating the 3D shape that we wanted.
This week’s assignments are:
group assignment:
review the safety data sheets for each of your molding and casting materials,
then make and compare test casts with each of them
extra credit: try other molding and casting processes
individual assignment: design a mold around the stock and tooling that you’ll be using, mill it (rough cut + three-axis finish cut), and use it to cast parts extra credit: use more then two mold parts