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It is now practical to make true-round, perfect-fitting, all-in-one case molds for jiggering using a consumer 3D printer and PLA filament. This is a one-off test mold using a consumer printer, but the method is so fast that production molds on an industrial printer are feasible. The process is: Create the drawing in 3D CAD (e.g. Fusion 360), print the three sections, glue them, turn the assembled shell upside down, fill with plaster, let it set and peel out the inside two pieces using a heat gun.
Things to note:
-This is very light, the walls are only 0.8mm thick.
-The shoulder (C) is printed solid and the PLA printed surface from A to D is left in place permanently, this enables precise and durable fit into the cuphead. I print the outside shell upside down, no printed support is needed and it prints very quickly.
-The down-pointing flange (A) embeds it into the plaster providing a durable edge against which to fit the pour spout (F). The glue joint connecting A & B breaks when B & E are removed.
-B and E are printed upside down, no support is needed for B, since the top is open, it thus prints quickly.
-The base E has a flange that enables gluing it precisely into B. It has a debossed logo and prints upside down for maximum quality (print support is generated but because it is short it prints quickly).
If you would like this 3D file in Fusion 360 format, it is available in the Files manager in your Insight-live.com account (click the link below to go straight there).
I print these using PLA filament, they are strong enough for hobby or studio use (even if not printed solid). The knife-edge prints precise and smooth, there is no need for sanding. Notice that the drawing (far left) includes the contours of the inside and outside of the mug. Making the jigger template only requires adding three straight lines. Then I extrude it forward 1cm and add a 30-degree draft. The top edge can, of course, be extended upward to mount in the jigger arm. The working template has to be narrower than this at the bottom to clear the edge when the jigger arm is lowered. For use in hand-finishing the slip cast mugs (without a jigger arm) it is suitable like this.
URLs |
https://insight-live.com/insight/recipes.php?OpenFile=D9rRGaxDwD
Fusion 360 drawing of a 3D printable case mold to make plaster mug jigger molds |
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Glossary |
All-in-one case mold
A method of 3D printing the case mold shell of an entire assembled plaster mold for using in ceramic production. |
Glossary |
3D-Printing
Standard 3D printing technology (not printing with clay itself) is very useful to potters and ceramic industry in making objects that assist and enable production. |
Projects |
2019 Jiggering-Casting Project of Medalta 66 Mug
My project to reproduce a mug made by Medalta Potteries more than 50 years ago. I cast the body and handle, jigger the rim and then attach the handle. 3D printing made this all possible. |
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