I'm taking machining/casting classes

I figure I'll keep this thread rolling for at least this semester and next. I'll bring a camera when I can remember.

Back story: I really wanted to take Manufacturing Technology because you get to run mills and lathes, and I already really like doing that. But, it wouldn't count towards my degree since it's not in my field (Aerospace Engineering). Then, I got to thinking and looking through the catalog. My senior year's pretty empty---what's this? Metals Casting is a class? Oh, I'm in. I figure I'll get a 3rd minor. :huh So, 'Materials', it is. 15 credit hours. 9 hours of which already count towards my degree. So, Manufacturing Technology is in the bag, and Metals Casting will happen next semester. There are 16 weeks total per semester.

Week 1: So far, in Manufacturing Technology, I've learned quite a bit. My peers are all annoying freshmen who have to be there because the class is a requirement for them, but I'm loving it. Turns out the first couple of weeks the class will be casting (not a bad surprise). Then, on to the machining.

Week 2: We packed green sand into a cope/drag flask and beat the crap out of it on a jolt squeeze machine. We poured aluminum down in and by the time the lab was over, we had our own little Missouri paperweights. Woo hoo!

As we left, we were given a piece of ~ 2.5" x 2.5" x 4" styrofoam to cut a shape out of for the next lab. (Don't you love arts 'n crafts?) The only rule: No drug paraphernalia, weapons, or body parts. Damn. For the life of me, I can't think of anything cool to cast that I couldn't easily just machine on my own lathe at home.

Any tips on what I should make out of the block?


Updates/pics will come as the class progresses.

Make a cube!

An orrery.

A bigger version of one of the Monopoly pieces.

belt buckle

Footpegs, levers, thick side covers for your DS...

An aircooled motorcycle cylinder block. Maybe a stylized brake caliper, something absurd looking with a dozen pistons. An NR750 style oval piston.

Cast bar ends?

Decorative fuel cap?

Bottle stopper? Is that drug paraphanalia?

Nothing saying you couldn't machine your casting as well.

An airhead diode board? Think of the heat it can dissipate.

T.

who cares if it doesn't count towards your major?

(i graduated in ae w/ 178 credits)

An artificial left hip joint. Send it to me if you don't want it.





.

A lot of people are doing that.

Well, as I said, this is my 3rd minor, in addition to a few certificates. So, I don't really care.

True.

I was strongly considering this.. but this sytrofoam is pretty damn coarse. Can't get any detail out of it. I just started drinking and messing around with it last night. I ended up carving a... goblet... the size of a double shot glass. I don't know why.

My only concern is that the sand won't fill it properly. If it messes up, I'll make a mini motorcycle engine or something.

Make a cool Motorcycle Helmet with a face in it maybe your own with a bottle opener at the back

cracker, big metal cracker

figst.

yum

cool redneck skull gearshift knob!!!

A doohickey.

BMW roundel.

An airhead piston.

A set of hex nuts to hang from the back of your bike, so folks know your bike has a healthy set.