Investing and burnout
The Investing & burnout tab covers the casting day from mixing the investment to the end of the kiln program. If you used the Setup Wizard, it's already filled in for your tree.
Your setup
The Your setup panel at the top holds the choices everything else depends on: the pattern material, the investment, the burnout cycle and any stones in place. Under them, a strip shows the facts they give you: the maker, the bonding type, the water-to-powder ratio, the peak temperature and the total program time.
The investment library has data from 9 makers. Each figure links to the maker's own document.
Castable resin
If your pattern is printed resin, the Castable resin card shows the resin maker's data and the investment and cycle they recommend. A small calculator works out the resin used, the pattern weight and the weight-to-metal factor. If you weigh the print, enter it under Weighed print for a better metal figure.
Casting day, step by step
Below the setup, the day is split into stages with a numbered tab bar. Use Next and Back to move through them, or All to see everything on one page.
- Plan the day
- Invest: measure, then mix, vacuum and pour
- Burnout: the chart and the kiln program
- After the pour: quench, devest and clean up
Printing always prints every stage.
Plan the day
Tell the app when you want to pour, for example "3 pm", and the Casting day plan works backwards: when to invest, how long the bench set takes, and when to start the kiln. You can also plan forwards from a start time.
Use Print Plan to print just the plan.
1 · Measure powder and water
Enter the flask, the flask type (solid or perforated), how many flasks, the water-to-powder ratio and an extra for waste. The app gives the powder and water to weigh out.
2 · Mix, vacuum and pour
This is the maker's timeline for your investment. Click Start mix timer and it counts through each step, beeps when the next one is due, and shows a pour-by deadline. The maker's tips are listed beside it.
3 · Burnout chart
The chart shows the kiln temperature over time, with numbered holds. Show it in °F, °C or both, and set an oven start time to see the clock time of every step.
Flask temperature at casting
The app suggests a flask temperature and a metal pouring temperature from your alloy and how thin the pieces are. Click Use suggested flask temp to use it.
4 · Kiln program
A step table with the rate, duration, elapsed time and clock time of each segment, ready to key into the kiln. Pick your controller to get it in the controller's own words. See Kiln program sheet.
Printing
Print gives every stage in colour or black and white. The printout fits the page and leaves out web links.