Casting process

[abhijit8p]

Hi guys!! i kno this topic must have been covered earlier but I couldnt find the right links--so i'll be really glad if anyone could help..--i hav these questions:

-I want to understand how the miniatures are cast... with all the undercuts and details--some sculpts are cast in a single piece!! I wanted to cast body parts so i need not sculpt them again and again.
--is there any method to tackle casting of complex undercuts so that the detail is not lost in the process??
- are there any companies (i'l prefer in India if possible) who can cast ur figures??
--wht process goes into casting of the pieces that are found commercially???

it'l b really helpful if anyone could guide me in this or give me some pointers...
Regards from India,
Abhijit.

 

[Einion]

This is a complex subject but undercuts are usually dealt with by the flexibility of the mould materials that are commonly used; their ability to bend and stretch allows a complex piece to be pulled out of the mould in a way you couldn't if the mould were rigid (although there is wear and tear on the mould, the lifespan is shortened the more undercuts there are and the more pronounced they are).

You can get a decent grasp of the basics of moulding from the Smooth-On site, which has a lot of really good info and how-tos.

Einion