High Precision Mould

Precious metal clay (or PMC) is one of the most versatile and malleable forms of producing detailed and intricate jewellery without having to spend hours chasing and engraving. PMC, sometimes also referred to as silver clay, works on the same principle as many art clay substances. Tiny particles of precious metal (either silver or gold) are suspended within a binding agent, forming a clay-like substance that has the same moulding properties as art clay. However, rather than being simply dried PMC is fired, burning off the binding agent and leaving the precious metal behind.

Because of these properties, PMC works exceptionally well with moulds of all kinds. For beginners, even a bar of soap can be used as an effective mould, impressing a design into the surface of the clay that can then produce precious metal jewellery incorporating intricate designs with very little effort.

How to use PMC with moulds
Silver clay lends itself to both home-made and commercially produced moulds. Using a mould also allows for repeated elements and the production of multiple pieces all incorporating the same design. Hollow moulds also allow you to produce lightweight work and to make your precious metal clay go further.

A simple way to start is to use a bar of soap to form the basis of a mould. Simply carve a pattern into the surface of the soap and then press the precious metal clay into the depression, ensuring that it is forced into every corner and recess of the carving. Then just peel away the PMC and you have a pattern embossed into the surface of the clay. This can then be worked to tidy up any uneven lines or areas that may have not come out as crisply as you would like. Once you are happy with the design, the piece can then be fired to burn off the binding agent and the metal polished and finished to produce a beautiful piece of gold or silver jewellery. Read the rest of this entry »

When you enter a home or business that has been creatively trimmed with tasteful architectural moulding, you immediately feel you have entered into a world of timeless elegance and grace. Architectural moulding has been the distinguishing highlight of finer homes throughout America’s history. However, in recent years, wide variations in new home styles have made architectural moulding less common. But for those who still long for the stately beauty and grace of traditional homes from America’s past, few can deny that adding the right combination of architectural moulding to an otherwise plain room can easily add stature and style, transforming the room into a place seemingly built for royalty. There’s nothing that can transform a plain drab room, or an entire home, from “ho-hum” to “WOW!” like architectural moulding. Finishing your home with a high quality trim moulding is an investment that you will enjoy day in and day out for as long as you live in the home. It may be enjoyed for generations, so it is well worth taking the time to make sure you choose a product that you will love living with for a long, long time.

Architectural moulding is available in many different styles and many different materials, from metal to Styrofoam. Often made of wood or plaster, interior moulding defines a space, hides unsightly wall seams, and adds visual interest to otherwise plain walls. You can install moulding along walls, on the ceiling, around the floor, around fireplaces, around windows and doors and in all those special places that you can create in your imagination.

While there are many types of moulding, the most common types found in homes today include:

* Crown Moulding – Also known as a cornice, this type of moulding can have the effect of making a ceiling appear higher, as it is routinely installed where the wall meets the ceiling, but as mentioned above, is becoming less common in modern homes.

* Dentil Moulding – A horizontal series of square blocks installed beneath crown molding. Most often seen in formal, traditional houses, dentil is used to add additional detail and interest while hiding shadows under the crown moulding.

* Base Moulding (Baseboard) – Used along the base of a wall where the wall meets the floor to conceal gaps and provide a finished appearance along the bottom edge of the sheetrock, paneling, or other wall structure. Baseboards are usually 4 to 6 or more inches tall. Sometimes used in conjunction with shoe moulding.

* Shoe Moulding – A quarter-round strip used to conceal the space between the floor and the baseboard caused by an uneven floor. Shoe moulding is not normally used with carpet, as the thickness of the carpet and pad will usually fill the gap and conceal any floor unevenness.

* Door and Window Casing – Installed around doorways and windows, casings conceal the gaps between the door & window frames and the surrounding walls while helping to define the room or space in which they are installed. Casings are commonly made of wood or metal and may be plain or decorative. Read the rest of this entry »

The moulding industry is getting bigger rapidly and the demand for moulding and trim will reach $9.8 Billion only in the US next year, chiefly due to the expansion in nonresidential construction. The fastest growth is expected in exterior moulding and trim, which will be followed very closely by metal stairwork. When it comes to material, plastic molding and trim products will offer the best prospects.

Moulding industry is a huge industry. So, let’s now talk about different types of moulds like plastic moulding, used injection moulds, injection moulding machines, extrusion moulding, rotational moulding, automotive moulding and OEM moulding.

Plastic Mould: Blow moulding machine will be the main part of your business if you are involved in creating plastic products. Blow molding machine will turn plastic into a mold to make light & strong products.

Injection Moulding: Injection moulding a way of manufacturing and, hence, helps make parts from thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Molten plastic is converted into a mould, which is the opposite of the product’s structure.

Injection Moulding Machines: Injection moulding machines are also known as presses. These machines hold the moulds in which the components are created. Read the rest of this entry »