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This is not so much an instructable, but a guide on what you can do with this incredibly useful plastic for DIY projects.
The low working temperature of 60 degrees Celsius makes it as easy to work as Playdoh, when cooled to room temperature, it has similar properties as nylon, useful for tidy little bit of odd jobs you need for your projects (so long as it is not temperature sensitive). Not to mention this plastic is biodegradable!
See more information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactone
For purchase in UK, Middlesex University Teaching Resources, MUTR, is an excellent source, and for other DIY stuff as well.
http://www.mutr.co.uk/prodDetail.aspx?prodID=576
Product Information:
http://www.mutr.co.uk/pdf_files/LIT0048.pdf
For purchase in the US and A, the trade name for the product is 'Friendly Plastic' as genial as a happy meal ;)
Below are some of the ideas I had for using this plastic.
1) Rubberband Gun
2) Coat hook for the cube farm partitions
3) Single AAA battery holder
4) Some reusable chunks of polymorph plastic
The low working temperature of 60 degrees Celsius makes it as easy to work as Playdoh, when cooled to room temperature, it has similar properties as nylon, useful for tidy little bit of odd jobs you need for your projects (so long as it is not temperature sensitive). Not to mention this plastic is biodegradable!
See more information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactone
For purchase in UK, Middlesex University Teaching Resources, MUTR, is an excellent source, and for other DIY stuff as well.
http://www.mutr.co.uk/prodDetail.aspx?prodID=576
Product Information:
http://www.mutr.co.uk/pdf_files/LIT0048.pdf
For purchase in the US and A, the trade name for the product is 'Friendly Plastic' as genial as a happy meal ;)
Below are some of the ideas I had for using this plastic.
1) Rubberband Gun
2) Coat hook for the cube farm partitions
3) Single AAA battery holder
4) Some reusable chunks of polymorph plastic
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Signing UpStep 1Another idea: Camera mount for a mountain bike
Here's another project, you can do with the plastic, a screw on camera mount that fits onto your mountain bike handle bar.
The common screw thread for compact film/digital camera is:
1/4" diameter coarse thread - 20 UNC, or in metric 6.35mm, if in doubt bring your camera to the hardware store!
A trick when using this plastic is not to let two pieces stick together before it is cooled to room temperature, applying a thin coat of vaseline prevents sticking, it is useful when making a negative mould or imprint of an object.
It is also easier to work the plastic with a heat gun, where you can apply gradual and selective heating to specific area, a hair dryer isn't hot enough, not a solution.
The common screw thread for compact film/digital camera is:
1/4" diameter coarse thread - 20 UNC, or in metric 6.35mm, if in doubt bring your camera to the hardware store!
A trick when using this plastic is not to let two pieces stick together before it is cooled to room temperature, applying a thin coat of vaseline prevents sticking, it is useful when making a negative mould or imprint of an object.
It is also easier to work the plastic with a heat gun, where you can apply gradual and selective heating to specific area, a hair dryer isn't hot enough, not a solution.
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I'm a real noob here (This is my first time).
This looks promising (I think). I'm looking at an application that needs a material that can go from hard to soft and back again within a second. Do you think with a sufficiently high flash heat, this would do the job? How much would this theoretical high temperature be?
How fast does it go soft? And back again? How sturdy is it? Would a large piece of it support an adult's weight?
If not, does anyone know any alternative materials that might work for me?
Thanks a ton for any help in advance. :)
experimenting with Casien (boiling milk + Vinegar). add formaldehyde during the
boiling to get even better Galalith plastic. but i can't do that yet because
formaldehyde and the family cooking set do not mix well.
Let's share ideas.
Of course then it'd be nice to find a low melting-point metal with a high tensile strength so the copy wouldn't snap in the lock and leave evidence *I mean* mess up the lock ;)
I think it is possible to mold the key, but I suggest you coat thinly, the flat surface with vaseline, and do likewise with the key, wash and dry your hand before pressing the impression with polymorph.
But I doubt you can get a casting metal that would meet both the requirements of low melting point and tensile strenght.
Or does polymorph not have that much tensile strength to make it viable for key making?
Good idea with the washing/drying - could get messy I guess.
Really good quality smoothing on the model btw.
Hi iv been working with this for a quite some years now and done nearly every thing to the stuff to make my art :) yes it can be painted, acrylic works but will easily chip off, spray paint is the same because the material when think can flex any coatings will chip or flake. If you’re wanting to add a colour coating that will stay I suggest fantasy film, it can be added as a sealed coat or as I have done to some of my pieces, coated with the fantasy film then peal off and it dyes the polymorph that colour. Fred Aldous (http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/) sell fantasy film in an array of colours :D I highly recommend. Also if you have any other polymorph related questions I may be able to help with please go to my question and answer’s page at: (http://www.formspring.me/ArtistCJackson). I hope this is of helpalso feel free to visit my website to see my polymorph sculptures from palm size to 9ft tall :) www.artistclairejackson.com
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