Through association with the art department, engineering faculty and students are able to conduct research using metal casting and 3D printed sand molds in the Bliss Hall Foundry. This process allows us to heat up metal and mold it into any shape, even shapes that were previously impossible to make. Professor Brian Vuksanovich and Dr. Jason Walker demonstrated this metal casting technique during the Fall Semester. 

The process begins by placing a 3D printed sand mold on the ground. The metal to be melted is then placed inside of a coil in the Ajax crucible machine. The machine is then turned on to heat the metal up. After the metal is liquefied, researchers put on silver reflective suits to keep from burning themselves. The coil is removed from the crucible with a claw specifically made to hold the coil. The liquid metal is carefully poured into the 3D printed mold. Industrial fans then begin the cooling process. After several minutes of cooling, the sand molds are broken to reveal the cooled metal underneath. 

The significance of the 3D printed sand molds used for the specific casting demonstration shows how far engineering has come to greatly increase the time of casting metal. More importantly, the 3D printed sand process has made it possible to make metal molds that could not be done before due to a variety of limitations. This new process now enables students and faculty to do different kinds of projects in the Foundry.