NAMES
CERAMICS ESSENTIALS
LOCATION
ONLINE AND IN THE CASTING LAB
DATE
TBC
DURATION ONLINE
20 min
DURATION PRACTICAL
60 min
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
NONE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
AN UNDERSTANDING OF MOULD MAKING
MIXING AND CASTING CONRETE
CHALLENGE
MAKE AND CAST A TILE
MIC AND CAST A CONCRETE SAMPLE
HAZARDS
CORROSIVE MATERIALS
REMEMBER
ALWAYS WEAR THE CORRECT PPE
The Casting Lab operates in a particuar way, it is the only Lab that is not supervised at all times. All equipment is loaned, and your student card must be left at the lab shop before use (this is not neccassery for the Essentials). It is operated this way to insure that it is kept clean and easy to use at all times. Below is what you need to do before you start using the Lab.
HOW TO USE THE LAB
The four steps below show you the process of using the Lab
1st
After you have completed your Essentials, to use the lab, hand over your student card at the lab shop and explain what you want to do. (for example cast plaster, or concrete, or model with clay) in return the Lab Assistant will loan you the tools you require and the number of the bench you can work at. These tools must be returned cleaned after use. (if you are here for Essentials go straight to the casting lab as the equipment is set out for you)
2nd
Before you enter the room you must put on protective glasses. Once inside you can put on an apron, this is optional but will protect your cloths
3rd
Go to your allocated bench and place your tool underneath (For the Essentials sessions your tool will be already there for you)
tHE ESSENTIALS OF MAKING A MOULD
- It must be water tight. The plaster will be poured in as a liquid, therefore it must remain there while it cures, and not leak out through holes or gaps.
- It must be the negative of what you want.
- There can be no undercuts
- You need to get the cast out of the mould. If the mould is made from an absorbant material a release agent will be needed. Rigid materials such as foam can be diffuclult to remove.
water tight mould
A gif of a good and bad mould
negative space
negative positive
undercuts
no undercuts
THE ESSENTIALS OF MIXING PLASTER
- It must be mixed to the correct ratio of water to plaster (1:1.3). This can be done by measuring it by weight or we teach you to add the plaster slowly to the water until it stops absorbing the plaster, as seen in the video below, this is standard practice when mixing plaster.
- Always add the plaster to the water
- Do not pour waste plaster down the drain. It will cure, harden and block the drain. Pour it into the bucket in the sink.
correct water ratio
A gif or correct and incorrect water ratio
Add plaster to water
Disposal
Do not pour down the drain
THE ESSENTIALS OF HAND MAKING WITH CLAY
- Roll your clay onto fabric to stop it sticking to the board.
- Stick parts together with 'slip' (a slurry of water and clay, you can make your own or find it on the shelf in the lab)
- If you want to keep working on your clay keep it damp by wrapping in plastic, do not let it dry out.
- To fire your clay it must be 'Bone dry'
- once fired it will be aprox 10% smaller (this is due to the water being removed)
Roll onto fabric
Rolling clay
How to stick clay together
with slip
Do not allow to dry
Keep wrapped in plastic
THE ESSENTIALS OF MIXING CONCRETE
- Wear the correct PPE (Gloves and Glasses) it is very corrosive
- Design your mix recipe for what you want to cast, there is more than just one type of concrete.
- Use release agents if needed.
- Vibrate to remove air pockets.
Correct PPE
Gloves and Glasses
Correct mix design
Good Mix bad Mix
Vibrate to remove air
Tap with a block of wood
FABRICATION LAB
University of Westminster
College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries
35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS
Office@FabricationLab.London
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