Lost-PLA casting

Abstract

Lost-PLA casting is a digital adaption of a classic sculpture technique --- lost-wax casting. Mesopotamian lost-wax cast artifacts date back to approximately 3500 BC [Hunt 1980]. At that time, wax carvings were encased in clay which was fired to produce molds. The earliest casts were copper, but over time other metals were used. Our production process remains remarkably similar to the ancient casting process, except for material substitutions: 1) ceramic slurries instead of clay, 2) PLA 3D prints instead of wax, and 3) bronze or aluminum instead of copper.