First, just as a test if I succeed

[pzrwest]

Are you going to mold and cast this track link? Or are you going to machine each link?

[Edwin]

Hi Pzrwest,

this element is the original model for mold. The chain I would pour zamak

regards Edwin

[Edwin]

Now the link should now be ready for molding, but I've probably made ??it a bit early to release gas into the furnace. There is again a small tear came I still have to fix, but this is no great action.



The casting I will first try without centrifugal casting. By the size of the limb, it might work. If it does not work then I can make the form required for centrifugal casting another master.

My mold is just barely big enough ....

[Edwin]

And on it goes with the insanity as someone has so beautifully expressed , but also with method.

First, the mold lining with baking paper . Thus, the silicone stays nice and separated from the mold .



I do not use silicone 2 K , but sheet goods which is then cured with heat .. This is to be processed as clay and later gets their properties .



And so do I embed the link in the form .





It is then simply baked in a small oven . However, you should do it because of the sweet smell preferably outdoors.



And so you can now see and edit the Vulcanized form .







However, I 've seen here that the chain I can not pour with this type form . I'll need through the rather complicated chain link at least a three-part form, and it is too cumbersome as the number of individual members to pour clean, but one learns from it.

That's why I still cast a first attempt , although there was no usable member.





The necessary ventilation channels I no longer appropriate . In addition one must try several fonts, but I can see how the elements fit together later and I 'm satisfied.



So used any more time on this method and for my centrifugal casting machine built ready because I can make this in a cast with a minimum of 6 members and certainly have no problems with the finer Struck doors.





And here is the test run. Everything works and I can control 0-1800 rpm .

[Edwin]

Now I 'm just happy to have made ??it my master completely of aluminum . It is stable and does not damage the molding . So I can use it just as often .

Nothing the defiance I will now use a three-part silicone mold for resin chemical molding to create .
This has several reasons .

The silicones used for centrifugal casting are substantially stiff and with only two parts to the chain links without damaging the shape hardly see . So I can try it but quite simply as the best division of the form might look like.
I need at least 6 master for a meaningful spin cast .
Resin has been found within limits suitable for pressing and baking my shape silicone and I can just pour limbs.

So I now have faith in the first half mold from plasticine and Lego bricks . However, there remains a lot of work as the master to embed into the putty so that a usable surface and clean dividing lines arise .



Once the link is embedded clean I have to pull up only the edge with Lego blocks and can pour the mold with something harder quality silicone mold .
For the other parts I'm thinking to use something soft silicone .



I let the first be at least until tomorrow now .

[Edwin]

If I include the so together it is around 40 hours I needed for the link ....

But with the silicone mold for Resincasting it also goes further. Today I poured the second of three moldings. Once the basic shape was the most time consuming it is now a little easier and faster with each part.

[Edwin]

After I first had to order and wait for the new shape silicone delivery let us go on .

I reassembled the Lego box and installed Eifll ventilation funnel made ??out of plasticine and then poured the previously two -part form .





The new silicone is slightly faster , smoother and it looks like it did not like the other problems with the plasticine. The surface remains smooth and unlike the previous unimpressed.



So I still do not like the shape , but I did not expected that I do it right the first time . Nevertheless, I now pour even a link from resin . Let's see how it is . But I will put the stock bars back first into the mold.





Now I have to wait until tomorrow first again .

[Edwin]

Now I've made a few casts with the form .











I am satisfied with the form, as it is not yet , mainly because of this it would be greatly weaken a fundamental error produced by a small offset to the joints and too much air is still there. But that is not bad because I get to die here first as a lesson to see the knowledge for the very expensive spin cast .

So I have begun today from this experience to build a new shape.

Back in the Lego box , because the simple and works well . So I am learning slowly better to model with clay which also makes getting to be fun .







For casting the mold I have found a better now suitable for silicone and so the Grundbassis is ready.



After the silicone is fixed you can have the difference between the old form and the new left , see right.



Also the division of the form I get a little modify the three fittings to better separate . Here, the modeling for the second portion .

[Edwin]

The new shape is finished ..... and works much better .



Here you can already see that it fits better and more exactly to each other .







The small vent holes I made with a drill. With a very high rotating works quite well and I have exactly the right places .



And so I'll have the same cast and a new chain link.





After the resin was cured sufficiently the big moment came .





It still has bubbles , but this time it's useful with a little reworking.



On the next cast I'll try it with an injection, but one learns ....

[[ICE]monkey]

great work, that's a lot of hours