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IMMark Expert
Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:08 am Post subject: How to control the amount of detail? |
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Well I finally made my first pull, 1/8" styrene.
I was shocked with by the amount of detail. I thought that I had my mold "ok", but have gone back to redo it. The mold is Bondo, I had sanded it down to 120, and thought that should be fine...nope, it picked up every nook and cranny. I have redone the mold sanded down to 320, and will redo another pull.
My question is; is there a way to control the amount of detail?
Did I let the plastic get too soft?
Did I have too much vacuum, or applied it too fast ?
Thanks for any thoughts!
Mark |
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jdougn Guru
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 714 Location: Louisville KY area
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:30 am Post subject: Re: How to control the amount of detail? |
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IMMark wrote: | Well I finally made my first pull, 1/8" styrene.
I was shocked with by the amount of detail. I thought that I had my mold "ok", but have gone back to redo it. The mold is Bondo, I had sanded it down to 120, and thought that should be fine...nope, it picked up every nook and cranny. I have redone the mold sanded down to 320, and will redo another pull.
My question is; is there a way to control the amount of detail?
Did I let the plastic get too soft?
Did I have too much vacuum, or applied it too fast ?
Thanks for any thoughts!
Mark |
Hey Mark, congrats on your first pull!
Does the styrene pick up the sanding marks or is it picking up minor flaws in the surface?
What vacuum source are your using?
If it's a vac pump than you could play with using less vacuum. However, IMX, it seems that the area that needs detail looses it, and the areas that you want less detail keep it. lol
You might also try running a fine skim coat of bondo over the surface then sanding like a body shop would do before they do a high quality paint job.
Even the 3/16" ABS that I run will transfer the outline of a piece of cellophane tape to the surface of the ABS. Seems like a couple pulls are sometimes required just to fine tune the detail areas.
HTH, DougN _________________ DougN - Just in case you're wondering, I got my "rating" legitimately... by posting aimless drivel, useless advice, and pointless questions. |
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IMMark Expert
Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: |
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Hi DougN
Thanks, yes I am pretty happy to finally have it running.
Right now, I just have my vac pump it is a 15 cfm.
I have a couple of tanks, etc...but thought with 1/8" styrene, the pump alone would be plenty.
Thanks for the info, I had know idea that a strip of tape would show up on 3/16" ABS, wow...that is amazing.
And yes, I figured that detail you want won't show up and detail you don't want will be there every time!!!
I did reskim my mold and sanding it to "repaint" quality, so that should do it.
I will let you know how all turns out....thanks again for the reply.
Mark |
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Fredo Master
Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 251 Location: Kingdom of Nye Area 51
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:25 am Post subject: |
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Wow... that's a huge pump! Are you sure it's 15 cubic feet per minute? That's a really big pump for a Thomas. A pump that size could probably pull a 2'x4' platen and not use a tank. Is there a chance it could only be a 1.5 cfm pump? A 15 cfm pump would need at least a 1hp motor. If it is 15cfm, that's one hell of a pump for the price.............Fredo _________________ If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you,
it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun...The Dalai Lama..Seattle 2001 |
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IMMark Expert
Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:44 am Post subject: |
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Hi Fredo
I think you have me mixed up with someone else.
Mine is a Busch pump, and yes it is 15 cfm.
My machine is a 32" x 48", although I am only running a 24" x 32" platen for this set up.
I plan on doing larger parts as well as using more difficult plastics, so I plan to add tanks into the mix as well.
I am always open to any suggestions or observations!
Thanks
Mark |
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RRK4 Novice
Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 58
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:13 am Post subject: |
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I posted a topic about Thomas pumps and just bought one for $38 shipped.
But it is interesting that IMMark is from columbus and so am I. Though I didnt fill that part in on the profile. |
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IMMark Expert
Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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I remember seeing the post about a Thomas pump, must have been what Fredo was thinking of?
Nice to see someone else from Ohio! |
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Fredo Master
Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 251 Location: Kingdom of Nye Area 51
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, my bad..Fredo _________________ If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you,
it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun...The Dalai Lama..Seattle 2001 |
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IMMark Expert
Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 8:41 am Post subject: |
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No problem, if that is as bad as it gets...we are doing pretty good!!! |
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jegner Site Admin
Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 2144 Location: Texas, USA
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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Less vacuum means less detail. Cooler plastic will also yield less detail. Depends on what you want to do, most folks WANT the detail. LOL. |
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