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Light bulb master copy for mould
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<blockquote data-quote="PeterT" data-source="post: 1408" data-attributes="member: 22"><p>I opened the link you provided. Sorry I don't quite get the distinction between the projects shown. One pic looks like the finished ornamental item - an actual light bulb shell with filament wire still intact, looks like clear resin poured inside the bulb so the result looks like a real bulb but its a rigid solid ornamental wall hook. So is that yours? Or you are wanting to make a similar version but employing a mold vs re-purposing a light bulb? </p><p></p><p>I think I get the path you are considering - get a male mold machined from metal or whatever. And from that I presume you would generate a female split mold parted on the center line. With halves indexed & joined you would pour in resin & simultaneously locate the wall hook anchor so its cast in place, yes? (I haven't quite figured out how/if you will be inserting the filament wire which is kind of a nice look feature but anyway..). One challenge is that it will be hard to negate the parting line and flashing of the split mold. Even high $ steel injection molds show this to some degree. So even if you had an awesome finish for 99% of the bulb surface, you will have to deal with that line going around the bulb. So then... ? maybe finish it somehow, sand & polish to blend? But that kind of defeats the point of a shiny 1-step mold.</p><p></p><p>The other aspect is the bulb threads, its kind of another key visual feature no? Were you considering also getting that machined in the male shape? The angles & extra surface area makes pulling a female mold off a bit trickier depending on relief angle.</p><p></p><p>I'll leave it at this for now. But depending on your expected volume, I would almost suggest you use an actual light bulb as a master. Its shiny and is..well.. already a light bulb shape. I'd also suggest you look into silicone or urethane casting resins for the mold. They come in a wide range of (viscosity & durometer) properties and will be more forgiving than a hard solid. But less dimensionally stable. The next issues you encounter will be releasing agents & exotherm & de-gassing the resin (assuming its clear or clear/tinted)... yadayada.. Epoxy is probably not the best pour-in material for your shape. I would recommend you look into clear casting urethanes.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="PeterT, post: 1408, member: 22"] I opened the link you provided. Sorry I don't quite get the distinction between the projects shown. One pic looks like the finished ornamental item - an actual light bulb shell with filament wire still intact, looks like clear resin poured inside the bulb so the result looks like a real bulb but its a rigid solid ornamental wall hook. So is that yours? Or you are wanting to make a similar version but employing a mold vs re-purposing a light bulb? I think I get the path you are considering - get a male mold machined from metal or whatever. And from that I presume you would generate a female split mold parted on the center line. With halves indexed & joined you would pour in resin & simultaneously locate the wall hook anchor so its cast in place, yes? (I haven't quite figured out how/if you will be inserting the filament wire which is kind of a nice look feature but anyway..). One challenge is that it will be hard to negate the parting line and flashing of the split mold. Even high $ steel injection molds show this to some degree. So even if you had an awesome finish for 99% of the bulb surface, you will have to deal with that line going around the bulb. So then... ? maybe finish it somehow, sand & polish to blend? But that kind of defeats the point of a shiny 1-step mold. The other aspect is the bulb threads, its kind of another key visual feature no? Were you considering also getting that machined in the male shape? The angles & extra surface area makes pulling a female mold off a bit trickier depending on relief angle. I'll leave it at this for now. But depending on your expected volume, I would almost suggest you use an actual light bulb as a master. Its shiny and is..well.. already a light bulb shape. I'd also suggest you look into silicone or urethane casting resins for the mold. They come in a wide range of (viscosity & durometer) properties and will be more forgiving than a hard solid. But less dimensionally stable. The next issues you encounter will be releasing agents & exotherm & de-gassing the resin (assuming its clear or clear/tinted)... yadayada.. Epoxy is probably not the best pour-in material for your shape. I would recommend you look into clear casting urethanes. [/QUOTE]
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Light bulb master copy for mould
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