Hello There - Gold Nugget Replica Process
Physical Piece> Digital Scan> Physical Duplication
This project was amazing to do, despite the doubts I had.
The project was upfronted to me from a man from Oroville. He obtained a 9 lb single chunk of found gold, infused with Quartz.
He needed a dublicate replica of this piece, and at my position at Butte College I took on the task to make this duplicate.
Through trial and error, I found a great result with scanning the chunk with an Einscan 3D Scanner that the Butte College Create Space had.
Then I 3D Printed the model after processing on a friends beefy computer. After learning the ins and outs of 3D Printing, I decided to use the Ultimaker S5 to 3d print the piece. Using 2 filament heads in the printer, I had PVA material to make the supports easy for removal using water and soaking the piece. Next is to Wax Gate the piece to determine the airflow and metal flow as the sprues will take the place of. This process I decreased the time commitment by including sprues in the 3d print.
Enjoy the 8 minute documentary on the process of the project, below
More pictures during the process
zbrush sprue gating shortcut
PLA and PVA, removal from Soaking process
Wax Gating process
Pouring process
Removal after pouring
Removal after Face Coat
Comparison Sandblasted to not
Nickel Plating
