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Pressure Casting Questions
Ein
CaliforniaRegistered User regular
CaliforniaRegistered User regular
Hello guys!
I come bearing a truckload of questions about pressure casting that my amateur internet searching has not been able to answer. I'm hoping maybe someone here might know how the whole process works and can help shed light on my ignorance.
As I understand it, pressure casting works by crushing the air bubbles out of the resin as it hardens. I'm hoping to use this method to cast models I make in clear (transparent) resin. I am also hoping it will help me with the troubles I have with two-part molds - a lot of the more complicated pieces that I try to cast end up with ugly air bubbles due to their unusual shapes, and I've been under the impression that using a pressurized chamber will force the air out and the resin through.
I already have what I believe to be the required tools for pressure casting. I have a Harbor Freight Painting Pressure Pot, which I have modified to work as a pressurized chamber. I also have a shop compressor that can put out 125 PSI, though the pressure pot's only rated to 60. I've already spent a bit of time working on the two and getting them hooked up together, and I am now able to pressurize the inside of the pot to a stable 60 PSI for an indefinite amount of time.
Now, here's a couple of my questions.
Is 60 PSI adequate pressure for pressure casting?
Is there a special kind of mold rubber, resin, or urethane that is required for pressure casting?
Is it correct in saying that the molds you use in a pressure pot need to be MADE while under pressure? I've read a few different places that say that the molds get deformed under pressure if they're not made IN that pressure.
If the answer to my previous question is yes, they must be made under pressure: How do you make a two part mold under pressure? Normally, when I make a two part mold, I use something like Klean Klay to mask off half of the model, and I pour the mold rubber overtop. While this works just fine and dandy for non-pressure casting, wouldn't the pressure applied in the pot also cause the Klay to deform? I can imagine there being an air bubble or two in the klean klay that I use to mask the model that screws the whole process up, but as I've never done it before I'm not entirely certain.
Does resin take the same amount of time to cast under pressure as it would normally?
Those are basically all of my questions for the moment. I've got a model I want to make a two-part mold in and cast in clear resin, but before I give it a go I want to make sure I understand the basics properly, and I am having trouble finding out the information I need on the net.
Thanks!
I come bearing a truckload of questions about pressure casting that my amateur internet searching has not been able to answer. I'm hoping maybe someone here might know how the whole process works and can help shed light on my ignorance.
As I understand it, pressure casting works by crushing the air bubbles out of the resin as it hardens. I'm hoping to use this method to cast models I make in clear (transparent) resin. I am also hoping it will help me with the troubles I have with two-part molds - a lot of the more complicated pieces that I try to cast end up with ugly air bubbles due to their unusual shapes, and I've been under the impression that using a pressurized chamber will force the air out and the resin through.
I already have what I believe to be the required tools for pressure casting. I have a Harbor Freight Painting Pressure Pot, which I have modified to work as a pressurized chamber. I also have a shop compressor that can put out 125 PSI, though the pressure pot's only rated to 60. I've already spent a bit of time working on the two and getting them hooked up together, and I am now able to pressurize the inside of the pot to a stable 60 PSI for an indefinite amount of time.
Now, here's a couple of my questions.
Is 60 PSI adequate pressure for pressure casting?
Is there a special kind of mold rubber, resin, or urethane that is required for pressure casting?
Is it correct in saying that the molds you use in a pressure pot need to be MADE while under pressure? I've read a few different places that say that the molds get deformed under pressure if they're not made IN that pressure.
If the answer to my previous question is yes, they must be made under pressure: How do you make a two part mold under pressure? Normally, when I make a two part mold, I use something like Klean Klay to mask off half of the model, and I pour the mold rubber overtop. While this works just fine and dandy for non-pressure casting, wouldn't the pressure applied in the pot also cause the Klay to deform? I can imagine there being an air bubble or two in the klean klay that I use to mask the model that screws the whole process up, but as I've never done it before I'm not entirely certain.
Does resin take the same amount of time to cast under pressure as it would normally?
Those are basically all of my questions for the moment. I've got a model I want to make a two-part mold in and cast in clear resin, but before I give it a go I want to make sure I understand the basics properly, and I am having trouble finding out the information I need on the net.
Thanks!
Ein on
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