ArtvsScience
New Member
Hello all.
Now isn't exactly for a movie or game prop but it's very similar. I'm just figuring out how i'm going to do it and am looking for any advice / suggestions from anyone who has experience making largeish silicone skin moulds and urethane castings
So the job is to manufacture 100 giant bells, they are going to be 750mm high x not sure yet. for the plug I'm going to turn a bell on a vertical lathe that we have set up, glass and fill the outside, melt the foam on the inside, fill and sand.
Then i'm planning on making a two part silicone skin mould joined around the bottom of the bell with a fiberglass back up case.
As I have to make so many in such a short time I have been thinking about simply solid casting them using a filled urethane casting resin the bell will only have a 5-10mm wall thickness.
I would pour in the resin from the top of the bell.
So what do you think? I usually make most things out of fiberglass but in this job strength isn't a major factor and I need a good finish both inside and out aswell as turning out at least two a day in a finished color.
questions?
What do you think about making such a big part out of casting resin ( the most suitable barnes product)
do you think it will work?
do you think the finished bell would be overly fragile?
What % of filler would you recommend to get the balance between economy and strength?
Do you think the silicone skin mould would keep it's shape inside the fiberglass case?
Any other advice / recommendations / cautions?
-- If it doesn't seem viable i'm just going to have to bite the bullet and make a solid glass mould and get them turned out by hand which is a lot more work and time.
Really looking forward to hearing responses, all welcome. cheers
Now isn't exactly for a movie or game prop but it's very similar. I'm just figuring out how i'm going to do it and am looking for any advice / suggestions from anyone who has experience making largeish silicone skin moulds and urethane castings
So the job is to manufacture 100 giant bells, they are going to be 750mm high x not sure yet. for the plug I'm going to turn a bell on a vertical lathe that we have set up, glass and fill the outside, melt the foam on the inside, fill and sand.
Then i'm planning on making a two part silicone skin mould joined around the bottom of the bell with a fiberglass back up case.
As I have to make so many in such a short time I have been thinking about simply solid casting them using a filled urethane casting resin the bell will only have a 5-10mm wall thickness.
I would pour in the resin from the top of the bell.
So what do you think? I usually make most things out of fiberglass but in this job strength isn't a major factor and I need a good finish both inside and out aswell as turning out at least two a day in a finished color.
questions?
What do you think about making such a big part out of casting resin ( the most suitable barnes product)
do you think it will work?
do you think the finished bell would be overly fragile?
What % of filler would you recommend to get the balance between economy and strength?
Do you think the silicone skin mould would keep it's shape inside the fiberglass case?
Any other advice / recommendations / cautions?
-- If it doesn't seem viable i'm just going to have to bite the bullet and make a solid glass mould and get them turned out by hand which is a lot more work and time.
Really looking forward to hearing responses, all welcome. cheers