12.MOLDING AND CASTING

Apr 20, 2016

This week's assignment is "MOLDING AND CASTING".

12-1.Making test mold

At first, I tried making a trial product.
[Tool]
Software: Rhinoceros (MacOSX) > Fabmodule (ubuntu)
CNC Milling Machine: Roland MODELA MDX20
- Rough cut: Flat end mill(φ30mm)
- Finish cut: Ball end mill(φ30mm)
[Material]
Hiba wood
[Data]
- darning_mushroom.stl
- darning_mushroom_2.stl
- darning_mushroom.3dm
[Proccess]
1.Making test data
I made 3D data of "Darning Mushroom".

2.Setting up the machine and the material
Put hiba wood on a waste board.
*If you cut a material, you have to use waste board.
Set a material and a drill to a machine.
R: Flat end mill (for Rough cut) / L: Ball end mill (for Finish cut)

3.Setting of Fabmodule
Start "terminal" in "ubuntu" and input a command "fab". Then "Fabmodule" starts.
Input format: Mesh (.stl)
Output process: Roland MDX-20 mill (.rml)
Workflow: make_stl_rml
"load .stl" > "make .png"
As described above, I set it. And input command "make .path"
"make .rml" > "send it!" > "Begin Milling"
If a rough cut is completed, I change an end mill.
As described above, I set it.
I did it!
Finally I painted with oil after gluing.

12-2.Making a mold of "Soy source dish"

I made a mold using "Soy source dish" data.

[Tool]
Software: Rhinoceros (MacOSX) > Fabmodule (ubuntu)
CNC Milling Machine: Roland MODELA MDX20
- Rough cut: Flat end mill(φ30mm)
- Finish cut: Ball end mill(φ30mm)
[Material]
- Wax
- Heat resistant silicone
[Data]
- plate_soy.stl
- plate_soy.3dm
[Proccess]
1.Making test data
I designed Soy source dish

2.Setting up the machine and the material


Settings of rough cut and finish cut.
Completed!
3.Making a mold with silicone
I used the following tools.
- a heat resistant silicone
- a sillicone hardener
- a aper cup
- a spatula
- a digital scale
- a release agent
- a paint brush
Coat a mold with a release agent. The surface becomes smooth when it is warmed with heater.
Mix a hardening agent with silicone rubber.
I removed air from silicone rubber by dropping a cup on a table.
Pour silicone rubber little by little.
Remove air with heaters.
Done!

12-3.Casting

I tried casting of tin.

[Proccess]
I heated tin with a cooker. (I used approximately 125 g of tin.)
Then I poured tin into a mold.
Finished!

12-4.Extra

1.Making a mold using the 3D printer
With a mold that was made by 3D printing machine, I made a mold with silicone rubber.
I cast ice! It's very beautiful!
2.Making a mold by MDF
I made a mold with MDF boards which were cut by Laser cutting machine.
Data > 160424.ai
I was able to cast tin!