Molding & Casting

molding

types
- injection (sprue, runner, gate, vent, parting line, flashing) video
- insert
- vacuum forming
- blow video
- rototional
- vacuum, pressure assisted
- die casting, investment casting
- flexible, soft, short-run production
- parts, registration video
vendors
- Smooth-On
- Reynolds Advanced Materials
- Dick Blick
- West Marine
- USG
- Aremco
- Singapore vendors
materials
- low-temp wax
- machineable wax
- rigid foam
  - gesso, epoxy, shrink wrap (mold release), hot air
- wood
- alginate gel
- urethane rubber, plastic, colorants
- clear rubber epoxy
- silicone
- PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)
- latex
- thermoplastic, thermoset polymers
- calcium sulfate
  - desicant, coagulant, plaster, gypsum, drywall
  - Drystone
- Portland cement
  - calcium silicate, aluminum/iron oxide, calcium sulfate
  - Hydro-Stone
- metal
  - Cerrotru casting pot polishing
  - aluminum clay sand glass
- ceramic
- food
additives
- fibers (tension, compression, composites)
- fillers: density, conductivity, flexibility, …
processing
- workspace
- testing
- mixing
  - weight
  - volume
  - consistency
  - striations
- pouring
  - starting
  - filling
  - vent location
- bubbles
  - stirring, pouring, vibrating, painting, vacuum, pressure, time
- curing
  - polymerization
  - cross-linking
  - hydration
  - endothermic
  - exothermic
- demolding
  - draft angle
  - release agents
    - dilute dish soap, vaseline, talc, …
    - deformation
  - storage
  - shelf life
safety
- warnings
- SDS
- ventilation
- protection
- disposal

assignment

review the safety data sheets for each of your molding and casting materials
design a mold around the stock and tooling that you’ll be using,
mill it (rough cut + (at least) three-axis finish cut),
and use it to cast parts

Molding & Casting

molding

assignment

examples