Combat Knife casting - Fail :(

thingiverse

It has been scaled up 2,500 times beyond the original model, featuring sealed holes in the handle and erased letters. Printed in two parts to create a plaster mold, this mold was crafted smoothly using a custom tool found on Thingiverse. After drying, I separated the mold and melted the PLA model inside. The parts were then firmly attached, followed by pouring molten aluminum into the mold. The resulting product can be seen in pictures; unfortunately, it was a major "fail," likely due to a poorly designed bleed orifice. Undeterred, I am printing another knife with a different mold position and plan to try again. As for posting this despite its failure, I believe that not everything goes right the first time, and sharing my experience could be helpful to others. This method has potential for creating acceptable products without extensive mold heating, as seen in the photos. Please do not use any of my designs for commercial purposes; they are shared for DIY enthusiasts only. Thank you for your understanding. If you're interested in more designs, join our group on Thingiverse and check out the latest creations. Bring your favorite designs to share! You can find our community at http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/aluminium-pla-casting. If this design has been helpful or if you like my work, please click the "like" button to encourage me to continue sharing more projects. I'd love to see your printed creations in the "I made one" section. All feedback and advice are welcome, as they can help improve future designs. Thanks for watching!