Import your STL file into Aspire and configure the tool paths for the Shop Bot. This is a bust of Volataire.
Using a coarse end mill, the Shop Bot performs the initial rough cut into the block of wax
A finer end mill makes a much smoother finishing pass over the block of wax.
A mold mixture is poured onto the wax positive. Once the mold is cured, it can be extracted and used for casting resin, hydrostone, low melting point metals, or chocolate (if your mold is food safe).
White chocolate Voltaire cooling in a food safe mold. And then a Black Metal Voltaire.
Casting Body Parts
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Alginate molds can be used to cast body parts. Note, the molds are very fragile and have a limited number of uses before they disintegrate.
Two Part Molds
Pour the mold mixture into the cage, partially submerging the object you're molding. Once the first part of the mold is cured, spray mold release over the surface of the exposed mold before submerging the rest of the object with fresh mold mixture.
And these pewter tapes play!
Embedded Electronics
You can also embed electronics in casting materials such as resin. This example has a piezo element acting as a contact microphone embedded in the cast of a comb. Hear your hair in HD!
Casting Records - Open Face Casting
This is a one part mold in which one side of the cast is exposed to the air so there is no need for vent/sprue holes.
Apply mold mixture with a fine hair brush by stippling a thin layer over the grooves of the record. The stippling will help the mixture capture the delicate detail of the grooves. After the first layer is cured, place record into mold cage and pour enough mold mixture to ensconce the record.
Here's the result, a clone of my Lenny Dee Organ Music record.
You can add dyes and pigments to your resin, including glow-in-the-dark powder. They fluoresce under UV light!
It's also fun to embed electronics into your casts as well. This example has "wireless" LEDs embedded in the resin, they are LED's connected to inductive coils that light up when exposed to an RFID or NFC field.
Why stop at casting only one record when you can cut and combine two?! This cut up is Morris Day x Sade.
