First Aluminum Lost-PLA Cast

First aluminum casting with the home-built foundry using the lost-PLA investment casting technique

media:
PLA, cast aluminum

The multi-step nature of this project led me to create a full video of the casting process from printed plastic to casted aluminum. Check it out!

Final completed product; imperfections likely due to aluminum not being degassed prior to pour

Final completed product; imperfections likely due to aluminum not being degassed prior to pour

Turning on lathe with sandpaper to give a better finish

Casted pawn after sawing off sprue

Casted part with sprue still attached

Aluminum ingot all melted and ready to pour!

Aluminum ingot starting to melt!

Cast area all set up

Mold and muffin pan tray (for excess aluminum to cast into ingots) ready

Plaster of Paris mold buried with aluminum can as open riser

3D-printed PLA all burned out. Accidentally damaged the sprue gate of the mold.

A more effective way of burning out PLA

Attempting to burn out the PLA at medium heat

Attempting to burn out the PLA with medium heat

Styrofoam sprue about to be dissolved with acetone

Casted Plaster of Paris with sand mix

Casting Plaster of Paris/Sand mix around 3D-printed part

Completed 3D-print of chess pawn in PLA plastic

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