All-in-one 3D printed slip casting block mold

The center piece of this 3D printed assembly defines the outside shape of a pitcher, the two fill holes correspond to openings at the top. This entire assembly is an all-in-one case mold for a three-piece working mold (there is an insert at the bottom for the base with embossed logo, there is a separate handle mold). This was printed as six light-weight units, having 0.8mm thickness walls, and then glued together (upper and lower outer shell halves, upper and lower model). The membranes defining mold mating points are printed onto the inside model, they extend out far enough to clamp between the flanges of the outer shell sections (suspending the model in the center). The membranes have holes to enable inserting natch-pairs. The assembly is filled with plaster to create a light-weight mold. After set the 3D print is peeled away and a ready-to-use mold emerges!

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All-in-one 3D printed slip casting block mold

Related Pictures

Printing an entire one-off case mold in one piece

This 3D printed shell encloses an entire two-piece mold for v 5.0 of our Medalta Potteries ball pitcher mold project - all that is needed is to fill it with plaster and peel off the PLA casing after it sets. We are still in the development stages so the fact that this will only produce one mold is fine. The membrane across the center is where the two mold halves mate (it also holds the inner model in place). The membrane has holes where natch-socket pairs can be mated for embedding into the plaster mold. The spare (shown lower right) will be rotated 90 degrees, it has a slot that fits snuggly over the membrane to hold it in place. We designed this to print a minimum of printed support. The handle is being done separately.

Fusion 360, my choice for 3D mechanical design in ceramics

Intimidation by the complexity of this type of software is the biggest obstacle you will face to learning 3D design (for 3D-printing). Fusion 360 is the new mission of AutoDesk, the leader in CAD software for 30 years, bringing much of the power of their industrial strength Inventor product into the hands of everyone! Fusion 360 has a lot of advantages. It is a standard. There is a simple learning curve via their Tinkercad.com, videos on Youtube, easy online help and many freelancers to hire (at Upwork.com). It is free to qualifying users (teachers, students or people who earn less that $100k/yr), the fact that software of this kind of power and utility is actually available to anyone who wants to try it is amazing. Fusion 360 (and other 3D design products) cannot run 3D printers (3D slicers do that). Fusion 360 is very demanding on the processor and graphics hardware of your computer, typical laptops are not powerful enough.

Fusion 360 can also be used for modelling, but other products are better.

Links

Glossary	0.8mm thickness This is an ideal wall thickness to print on consumer 3D printer since to normally creates sufficient strength and prints in one two passes
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.

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