3d scanning, cnc milling, mold making, and casting

We've been having fun in my casting course lately. The students are reinterpreting the cameo and making some new work utilizing 3D scanning and CNC milling. They learned how to scan and then how to use the Taig CNC to mill high density foam for making plaster molds for slush casting wax. Then they learned how to make investment molds from the waxes for lost wax/centrifugal casting. Students then have to combine these cast components with fabricated components. I'm anxious to see this new work in it's completed state. 

cast shot glasses

Last week I cast these little shot glasses from some 3D prints I had made. The outside is cast in yellow bronze and the inner cup is sterling silver. I still need to finish these up, but I'm really digging these. Burnouts from ABS prints has been going great and the centrifugal casting machine I refurbished last year is a dream to use. I'm so glad I bought this. It's going to get a lot more use in the future for certain.

casting machine rework

This past week I decided to get the casting machine bolted to the floor. Before doing that, I stripped the old paint and rust off of the machine and gave it a quick paint job. The girls came into work with me late on Friday and they helped me out. I finished bolting things up just in time for my demo in my casting class today. I had to make some cradles for the various size flasks we have and I need to work on the timer switch a bit, but our casts came out great today. I'm so glad I was able to get this machine. Big thanks to John again (BTW when are we going to see some new blog posts John?)!