Group Assignment:
- Review the safety data sheets for each of your molding and casting materials
- Make and compare test casts with each of them
- Compare printing vs milling molds
Individual Assignment:
- Design a mold around the process you'll be using, produce it with a smooth surface finish that does not show the production process, and use it to cast parts
Have you answered these questions?
- Linked to the group assignment page and reflected on your individual page what you have learned ✅
- Reviewed the safety data sheets for each of your molding and casting materials, then made and compared test casts with each of them ✅
- Documented how you designed and created your 3D mold, including machine settings ✅
- Ensured your mold has smooth surface finish, that does not show the production process (by postprocessing if necessary) ✅
- Shown how you safely made your mold and cast the parts ✅
- Described problems and how you fixed them ✅
- Included your design files and ‘hero shot’ of the mold and the final object ✅
Group Assignment
- Review the safety data sheets for each of your molding and casting materials
- Make and compare test casts with each of them
- Compare printing vs milling molds
Teamwork
For this project, I met with my colleague Evelyn via Meet to compare and show her the materials we were using to make the mold. In this case, I made a 3D print for the positive and negative molds. The progress of the group assignment can be found on the group page.
Reflections
- This week, I delved into the use of gypsum (calcium sulfate hemihydrate), which is used to make the positive mold. The manufacturing process was easy to mix and mold, as it hardens quickly upon contact with water. It is also ideal for reproducing fine details in artisanal molds. The material I used for the casting process was wax, used as a moldable material within the plaster mold. It melts at a low temperature (~60°C) and is poured onto the mold. When cooled, it preserves the details well. It can be easily removed for processes such as lost-wax casting. The combination of gypsum and wax allows for the manufacture of molds with high precision and ease of replication. I also learned about the thermal behavior of wax and the setting of plaster, thus reinforcing the concepts of casting, modeling, and material safety.
- On the other hand, having used the combination of 3D printing and silicone molding, I found it to be a surprising technique, as it allows for the creation of highly precise, custom molds. It's a versatile technique, useful for both prototyping and artisanal production, but it also requires careful mixing and curing of the silicone to ensure a clean, bubble-free result.
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