Mould for customised castings
Are you looking for an affordable and unique way to make your own die cast molds? Look no further!
With 3D printing, you can quickly and easily create custom molds for production castings with a professional finish. With the help of Fusion 360 you can design and print a five-part mould in a matter of hours, all at a fraction of the cost of conventional moulds.
Отпечатване на калъп
3D printed molds are an excellent alternative to traditional molds as they are easily customizable and more cost effective. In addition, the design possibilities are limitless and we can create any shape or size desired.
3D проектиране с Fusion 360
To create the unique and custom mold for casting, I use the 3D design software Fusion 360. This powerful tool allows the creation of complex and precise shape designs that can be printed with ease. First, I determined the size and shape of the mold the customer wanted, taking into account the size and shape of the castings we wanted to create. I then began to design the mold, using a combination of extrusions, fillets, and chamfers to create a visually appealing and functional design. Once the 3D design was complete, I was ready to move on to the next step - printing.
After designing the five parts for the mold, it was time to start the printing process. The cheapest and most popular 3D printing method is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and for this project I will be using PLA filament.
PLA filament is an eco-friendly and easy-to-use material that is ideal for making 3D printed molds. The material is melted and then extruded through a nozzle layer by layer until the desired shape is created.
Printing time will vary depending on the size and complexity of the product design. Typically, printing all five parts will take several hours.
Once printing is complete, we can remove the parts from the 3D printer and begin assembling the mold.
Once the 3D printed parts of the mold are assembled, it's time to give the mold a finished look. As a product designer, it's important to make sure the mold is clean and smooth to ensure it won't affect the shape or texture of the casting.
After 3D printing, there may be excess material or bumps on the surface of the mold, which can affect the quality of the castings produced. This is where finishing comes in.
Довършителни процеси
Finishing involves removing unwanted artifacts or rough surfaces left over from the printing process. Final adjustments may also need to be made to ensure the master is in perfect working condition. Using sandpaper you can smooth out any uneven edges and give the mould a polished finish. It is essential to focus on the mould contact points to ensure that the casting can be easily released from the mould without damage.
To prepare the form for finishing, you can use a primer that provides an excellent base for painting or coating. Primer helps to fill any remaining gaps or pores and provides a smoother finish that makes painting easier. When sanding avoid removing too much material, you need to be careful and proceed slowly.
After sanding, you can use a buffing disc or cloth to give the mould a finished look. You can also consider using wax varnish to give a glossy finish. The 3D printed mold is now ready to be used to create your custom castings!
With this method, together we can create any shape you desire. 3D printed moulds do not have maximum accuracy and strength and are suitable for castings with materials that are not cast at high temperature.