1 Part Mold Making with Draft Angles

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This lesson plan will cover how to make a food safe, 1 part mold for gummy, hard, or icy candies from a 3D design. How I Designed This Use any 3D modeling program, as long as your model comes out with the following: Make it flat on one side Make it small, each student should get a mold Use a “drafting angle” Make sure you have no overhangs. If you have overhangs you won’t be able to remove the 3D print from the silicon putty. I used sculptris for the gummy bear and tinkercad for the text. For extra difficulty design a 2 part mold. Modeling a gummy bear in TinkerCad Flattening a Sculptris-made gummy bear in TinkerCad Overview and Background Project: 1 Part Mold Making with Draft Angles Students will learn what molds are used for today and how to identify an object that was made with a mold. Then students will enter into a 3D design program and make an object that they will cast into a tasty treat. The design process will focus on making draft angles to get the optimum casting experience. A Draft Angle is the amount of taper for molded or cast parts perpendicular to the parting line. This means that the cast will release from the mold without tearing or lost information. It is a fun challenge to design objects with a draft in programs that don't have a specific tool that makes drafts. Key idea: Students will know and use a variety of visual arts materials, techniques, and processes. Students will know about resources and opportunities for participation in visual arts in the community (exhibitions, libraries, museums, galleries) and use appropriate materials (art reproductions, slides, print materials, electronic media). Students will be aware of vocational options available in the visual arts. Lesson Plan and Activity Step 1: Introduction Bring in a few objects that are made from molds. Most plastic pieces are made with molds. Most bottles are also made with molds. I am sharing some examples below of tell-tale signs of a molded part. Share the Mold Making Uses + Terminology.pdf Step 2a: Design Show shapes with draft angles in TinkerCad Paraboloid Cones Pyramid Shape directory Build an object using the shapes with draft angles Cut away from the object (make sure the cut has draft angles too) Finish design and export Step 2b: Simple Design Upload draftangletemplate.stl to TinkerCad Use different heights of letters to see what works without a draft angle Finish design and export Step 3: 3D Print Size restrictions should be no larger that 2" x 2". This will conserve print time and putty use. Step 4: Silicone Putty Read instructions thoroughly Take two equal parts of your easy mold putty Mix thoroughly till there are no swirls Press your 3D print into the putty (make sure you exert pressure so that all information transfers) Allow putty to cure Step 5: Casting time Pick a recipe given what you have access to (I picked ice because I don't have a hot plate) Pour your liquid into the mold Allow the cast to cure based on recipe instructions Step 6: Enjoy! Yummy! Materials Needed You will need Easy Mold Silicone Putty: Get it from Walmart Get it from craft stores Get it from EBay Use this putty because it’s food safe, non-toxic, does not require additional equipment, and dries quickly. Really it’s amazing for students. If you want to teach more advanced mold making techniques, make sure you use a silicone that is food safe and follow the directions on the package. Classic mold making techniques will add several days to this lesson plan and will need additional equipment and direction. You will need gummy candy, chocolate or sugar candy, or juice as your cast. Which means, you will likely need access to a hot plate, pot, and food materials. For juice, you will need access to a freezer! Duration of Lesson 2-3 class periods. 3D Printing should happen off hours. Preparation Prerequisites There are 0 prerequisites to this kind of mold making. For K-2nd graders: Design & print the objects beforehand, distribute putty for students. For 3rd-6th graders: Basic understanding of 3D design and 3D printing are helpful but not required. Students will design, print, and use the putty. For 6th-12th graders: Challenge them by making a 2 part mold and using classic mold making techniques. If you haven’t made a 2 part mold or used classic mold making techniques, you should try it out yourself before teaching. This is a good walkthrough for classic mold making. Materials 1 computer per student 3D design program of choice installed or available Easy mold putty (or silicone molding materials) Food materials of your choice (ie. gummy, chocolate, ice) References Teaching Mold Making Uses + Draft Angle Draft Angle Recipe guidance How to make Gummy BearsHow to make chocolate easter bunniesHard candy recipe Project: 1 Part Mold Making with Draft Angles Students will learn what molds are used for today and how to identify an object that was made with a mold. Then students will enter into a 3D design program and make an object that they will cast into a tasty treat. The design process will focus on making draft angles to get the optimum casting experience. A Draft Angle is the amount of taper for molded or cast parts perpendicular to the parting line. This means that the cast will release from the mold without tearing or lost information. It is a fun challenge to design objects with a draft in programs that don't have a specific tool that makes drafts. A Draft Angle Objectives Students should learn: Basic design rules for mold making Basic mold making process Some applications for molds Audience 3rd to 6th graders or older for extra difficulty components Example of flashing on an injection molded part Example of a seam left over from blow casting References Teaching Mold Making Uses + Draft Angle Draft Angle Recipe guidance How to make Gummy BearsHow to make chocolate easter bunniesHard candy recipe Handouts & Assets Mold Making Uses & Terminology.pdf