Difference Between Cast and Mold
A cast and a mold have
become the most common forms of art of many industries in reproducing the 3D
imprints of objects or organisms. Almost anything can be made using the casting
and molding processes. When looking around, everything from jewelry, equipment,
kitchenware, toys, and many more, has undergone the process of molding and
casting. These art forms are also used largely in fossils in reproducing
sculptures. This article explores the main difference between a cast and a
mold.
Definition of a mold
A mold is an impression
of an object or organism. It precedes a cast which is a final step in making a
replica of the object or the organism. The mold is used to capture the entire
details of the object before a cast is made. It can be natural or synthetic.
With regard to a natural mold of an organism, the organism will normally be
buried in the sediment where it is left to decay or dissolve. The imprint that
the organism leaves on the spot is the mold and it can be filled to make a
cast.
A mold can also be
synthetically made where a hollow block or cavity is filled with a pliable
material. The process of making a mold is called molding, which is basically
the process of creating an impression of any object to be filled with an
assortment of materials. Usually, the material can be spread or poured into or
onto the particular molded object to allow it to set or harden. If the object
or organism is complex, multiple molds can be made. Simple objects require only
a single mold.
There are many
materials that are used to make molds, and these depend on the desired shape
and the size of the object. Plaster is the popular material often used because
it is cheaper and produces hard results. Silicone rubber, polyurethane,
polysulfide, wax, clay, thermoset mold rubber and liquid latex rubber are some
of the common soft molding materials also used in creating negative or reverse
impressions of objects. Other custom non-toxic compounds can also be used to
mold human parts that can be applied onto the skin.
Each industry may have
its own techniques of making molds. Also, there are different types of molding
methods which include extrusion molding, blow molding, injection molding,
laminating, compression molding, matrix molding, transfer molding, rotational
molding and thermoforming.
Definition of a cast
A cast is the final
step the follows a mold. No cast can be made in the absence of a mold. Before a
cast is made, the casting material is spread or poured into the mold of the
organism or object to make a final 3D imprint. There could be multiple cast
results from a single mold. Similarly, there are many materials that can be
used when casting a product.
In engineering, a metal
is heated to extremely high temperatures until it turns into a liquid. This
liquid can be poured into a mold to make any required product of a desired
shape and size. That is how jewelries and equipment are made in metalworking.
The liquid will be left to harden before a cast can be made. Many materials
such as plastic resin, concrete and plastic can undergo the casting process.
The same materials that
were used in the molding process can be used for casting. These could include
silicone, polyurethane, gypsum, epoxy resin, or liquid latex rubber, but can be
reconfigured to suit the outcome of the cast. If the mold was made with
multiple pieces, the casting material can be poured or injected through several
openings to complete a complex cast. Provided the mold was perfectly made,
casting is not a complicated process at all. There could be minor adjustments
in the process such as finishing or sanding the object.
Key Differences between a Cast and a Mold
Materials
The materials used for
molding an object can be the same ones used when casting, but not always a case.
The materials in casting could be re-formulated to achieve a specific purpose.
The common materials include polyurethane rubber, wax, epoxy resin, polyester
resin, and gypsum.
How they are made?
A mold precedes a cast.
When molding a fossil, the organism is left to dissolve or decay in the
sediment where it will leave a mold. In engineering, a mold can be
synthetically made out of any object. Then a cast is the subsequent step of
filling the mold with specific materials to make a final product.
Process
A mold is made through
a process called molding while a cast is made through a process called casting.
Differences between Cast and Mold: Comparison Chart
Summary of Cast and Mold
A mold can be made out
of any organism or object using any type of material
The common materials
include polymers, plaster, concrete, plastic, epoxy resin, polyurethane rubber,
polyester resin
A mold is an art form
that precedes a cast
A cast is made by filling
the casting material into or onto a mold
A cast can be made with
the same materials that are used in making a mold
A cast is a final
product
Molding is a process
through which a mold is made
Casting is a process
through which a cast is made
Both a cast and a mold
are common art forms used in many industries and institutions to make 3D
imprints.
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