i need help in casting parts for a project i'm working on...... i am building a model of dowtown detroit and was going to cast it once i finish so i can make duplicates and possibly sell them locally..... i won't be ready to cast probably for another few weeks or but wanted to find some help in the mean time so i can read-up or if someone can give me a run through....... i'll be building the main model out of acrylic and it will be in sections about 6"x6"x3" appr.. i have casted b4 but i forgot the materials i used..... i want to cast in a metal though... i think i used a plastic when i did it............. any help would be appreciated

thanks
b

 

Can't help you with casting but post some pics this project sounds very cool.

Kona

 

Casting in metal can be a bit more complicated that casting in urethane or epoxy or other plastic type material.

Melt Temperature will metals can be a determining factor when choosing a molding/material and type of mold.

I like for folks to know what material they are going to be using for the cast before going into the molding process. Molding materials such as Silicone, polyurethane, plaster, investment, etc. Costs differ depending on the material used for the mold. Life of mold is also a factor in determing the molding material. But as said earlier it is quite useful if you determine what the final product will be made of. Some mold materials will not withstand the temperatures used when casting metal. BUT there are some low melt point castable metals.

If you would like to talk more about it please PM me or phone.
steveb at stevebirkes.com
816-650-5792 home
816-274-3854 work
I am at home until Nov 28. Also out of town on Thanksgiving.

 

There are low melt temperature metals that are liquid at a few hundred degrees F. They could be poured into silicone molds however the molds would have a limited life (also the molds would have to be "pulled" from your models, I'm sure you know what that means. Plaster molds would be another option as well as wax molds (for investment casting). We do this frequently at work.

Try www.freemansupply.com for info on casting materials.

 

 

anyone who can foward me info on injection molding and casting of plastic parts please e mail me or pm me carlclub@comcast.net

 

cool,

thanks for the ideas and things to think about.... i could do a plastic/urethane cast but i like the metal look better...plus since i'll have the original models, i can redo the negative molds if needed to be..

www.237am.com

that's my website and i'm looking to make a product to market locally.... i'm almost done with the drawings and have to take some pics of downtown this weekend if the weather is good.... i found a few sites for aerial photos... google earth has a good download..... or you can google it and pic the "local" icon up top and you can see an aeriel of your location....only thing is that it's a few years old.....

the idea for the model would be a section model.....divide downtown into 9 or 16 sections and cast each one...then you can place them together to make a grid of downtown...... and i want to cast a full on... reason for the sections is so a company can buy them individually and not have to pay for the full cost in one payment..... i thought that was a good idea.......once i get a mock up, maybe if i can send it to someone and they can check out what i'm working with.... i don't really want to make a complex mold with undercuts and sides that come off individually.... one simple mold... cast upside down....... since the "city" will be at 1"=200" it'll be small so the buildings will basically be blocks....

steve, i'll call u this weekend. thanks

b