Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Die forming problem

The last week or so we've been working on die forming. I first cut out the plexi glass, then the masonite board, then the 2 brass pieces. Everytime I cut something it wouldn't line up with the rest of the pieces. I don't know what i did wrong because each time i drew out the design, lined it up, and cut out the same way as the others. So each time i would have to hack parts out and file, file, file.

[left: my progress laid out before the die broke!]

When i finally finished my die, I pressed all 10 pieces of copper 1 time then my 2nd time through, the plexi glass broke where there were tiny detail pieces. I knew this die was going to be challenging (as i found out with cutting it) but i didn't think it would break! So after the plexi glass broke, the brass was bent in and the pressings didn't work at all. I thought the die and all the copper was ruined. I tried super gluing the pieces back in but it didn't work, the press is too strong for it to hold.

[right: 1st pressings]
[center: showing off where the die broke]

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