Advanced RE and RP Technique for an Effective Bronze Sculptures’ Reconstruction
摘要
Lost-wax casting is an ancient technique of great precision, used for the creation of bronze artefacts. The artist makes the model in clay or plasticine and then creates the plaster or silicone mold. Inside the mould, wax is brushed to the ideal thickness of 5 to 6 mm and then wax “straws” were added at appropriate positions to allow optimal filling of the mould during bronze casting, starting with the lowest volumes. Finally, the wax model is incorporated into a refractory mass that surrounds it internally and externally and forms the cavity into which the bronze is poured. In this research, the results were obtained by analysing an innovative digital technique that avoids the creation of the mould and shrinkage during the intermediate stages of bronze production. In fact, using a 3D scanner and the latest rapid prototyping techniques, an accurate reproduction of the original clay model was recreated. The moulded model replaces the wax model. It is also enclosed between two forms of refractory material and, due to its similar melting temperature and flow properties, minimises build time and improves accuracy. The studied methodology also allows a more precise assignment and greater control of all surface thicknesses through a discretised digital finite element (FE) model analysis.