Aluminum fidget spinner for lost PLA casting by Jori

Last crawled date: 3 years, 4 months ago

This is my non professional approach to extend 3D printing for myself to create metal objects using the "lost PLA" method.
I try to write up the way which worked for me, including the objects I used for printing.
This is not intended for direct replicating; if you choose to do so, do it responsibly and at your own risk!
I skip steps which are obvious if you already know how to melt and pour aluminum; I try to outline what I had to learn.
1: print the models attached in PLA; only 1 perimeter and 5% infill
2: glue together with hotglue, like shown in 3D screenshot
pouring basin is inspired by this thing from VegOilGuy:https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3619744
3: add drinking straws as vents, like you can see in the image of the cast incl. sprue
4: paint on thin layer of watery plaster mix and let dry for better detail reproduction
5: pour plaster for with 50:50 plaster and sand mix for better thermal and structural stability
6: let dry over night
7: burn - out - process; what I gathered from instructables and youtube video...
2h @ 100°C
1h @ 200°C
2h @ 450°C
...worked for me.
8: ...melting aluminum and pouring it...
since I have only one diy electric kiln which I had to use for burn out of plaster and melting of aluminum: probably the plaster form was too cold when pouring, which resulted in "almost incomplete" filling when you look at the vents.
Think I was just lucky ;-)
Even if I'm a couple of years late with a fidget spinner: no sharp corners, somewhat even cross - sections were just a good starting point for lost PLA :-)