Sand Castle Mold

thingiverse

I crafted this mold specifically for the "Build A Castle" challenge, aiming to create a design that would print upright with a look reminiscent of the sand castle it produces. My intention was also to avoid relying on the slicer to generate support material, which I've successfully achieved. The vertical edges were intentionally designed with a slight taper to facilitate easy release. Additionally, I incorporated easily removable supports to ensure the top prints smoothly. After several revisions, I finalized multiple versions of the design, with R3 being the most effective in minimizing support material usage, wasting only about 4g of PLA. Given that there are no beaches within these corn fields, I conducted my testing in a bucket. The mold functions as intended if packed tight enough. To ensure successful release, make sure to pack sufficient sand into the spire before filling the rest. Release is achieved by squeezing the sides slightly, then tapping around the spire and other faces before gently lifting off the mold. Design files are available [here](http://a360.co/1JlrYQd) in multiple formats. Simply select your preferred format and use the download button at the top right to access them.