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Friday
Nov122010
Metalcasting Breakthrough
;)
Those inventive folks at the University of Washington are at it again. This time they've been working on a simple formula for cementenous metalcasting. In other words, material with which you can make an effective mold for molten metal casts. At one point, they were using this recipe: - 1000 parts VersaBond
- 250 parts Maltodextrin
- 250 parts PVA powder
When mixed with just the precise amount of moisture and deposited appropriately by a 3D printer, you'll get yourself a near-rock-hard mold suitable for sloshing in a hot metallic liquid of your choice. What will your first cast be? We know what Open3DP's will be (see image above).
However, after subsequent experiments with other substances including - apparently - Rice Wine (all for good academic use, we're quite certain), they have arrived at the ultimate formula:
There is no formula. Just go to the hardware store and purchase a 50 pound bag of USG Hydroperm for USD$30!
That's perhaps the simplest and best answer one could hope for. Well, done, Open3DP!
tagged 
metal, opensource in ideas, usage
metal, opensource in ideas, usage 
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Reader Comments (4)
To be clear, Laura West was really a co-inventor of the cementenous casting material and the recent hydroperm discovery.
So noted. Well done in any case!
Thanks Open3DP for noting our collaboration. I have been working as a visiting sculptor/researcher with UW for several months now, while on sabbatical from Fresno City College. I would stick with non-ferrous metals and make sure the mold is well pre-heated, before trying to pour metal into it. I will post instructions within the next several weeks (as we complete testing) on rpsculpt.wordpress.com and then dual post on open3dp. In the meantime it is a great substitute for the store bought powders.
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