Molding and Casting Techniques

The Workshop for Molding and Casting Techniques uses a wide range of different procedures. One end of the spectrum covers the classical techniques which have been playing a central role for centuries in their original form, such as the so-called Lost Mold , for which both the (clay) model and the intermediate mold, the (plaster) negative, are usually destroyed to reveal a cast made of a more durable material (plaster, concrete and the like).

Often, students are required to carry out tasks such as life-casting, traditionally in plaster but, more recently, also in other materials such as alginates, which, if the detail drawing is precise enough,have the advantage of rubber-like elasticity, thus making the casting process much easier. Furthermore, there is the field of casting, reproducing or multiplying everyday objects using dismountable mold segments or materials such as silicon. Apart from the already mentioned materials of reproduction, such as plaster or concrete, we use a wide variety of synthetic materials like epoxy, polyester or acrylic resins, which are used in casting or laminating techniques. These also include fast-cast resins or polyurethane foams.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have more recent technologies, such as using a line laser and a web-cam for scanning objects and thus bringing them into the data room, or molding directly in the virtual space of a CAD program, using a multi-axis milling-machine or a 3-D printer as the output medium.