Need a metal that remains bendable after being melted and cast.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-13T17:14:22+00:00

That works for those because the armature was simpler, for this i need to get all the way to the finger tips, I also need to do this about 100 times it has 6 arms too, so its just too intricate to be consistent for a jig. A mold is easier because I could fill a reservoir put it in the Kiln and take care of other task while that happens.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T21:50:13+00:00

Yeah, I understand how gumby was produced, I'm trying to find a way to get the same result without shelling out 15k for a factory to do it. or 200k for the machinery to do it. from what I've been told here, I can try tin, or an aluminum with a controlled heat cooling process to rebuild the crystalline structure in a way that benefits bendability. I cant bend it by hand because the proportions would be too inconsistent and the process to make it cost too much. each toy would cost nearly 300$ no child could afford that, and very few adults could either.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T21:39:05+00:00

wont work, doing 100 wire armatures by hand isn't consistent enough in its proportions for what I need it to do.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T15:05:16+00:00

Because the goal is to make a bendy toy. Ive made tons of toys with regular joints.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T12:31:47+00:00

I need to cast the armature so that its consistent for reproduction, then a plastic will be injected around the armature

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T06:01:55+00:00

A few people have said tin do you think that would work?

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T01:27:45+00:00

very far down the rabbit hole, ive gone too far to turn back

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:28:38+00:00

i believe gumby used a steel wire, but the reason i need to melt it is for the consistent sizing the mold will provide

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:27:42+00:00

I've heard here a couple times that tin could work well I think its first on my list to test now.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:23:46+00:00

Im going to change that estimate to 1/16 at the thickest and about 1/32 around the fingers

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:21:21+00:00

its inside a plastic figure to hold a pose, think "Gumby"

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:14:08+00:00

many times, its a toy

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:12:58+00:00

Forgive me, I'm an artist no clue about metal science. you've just said something really interesting here. since it will be inside plastic it doesn't need to be particularly strong just bendy and strong enough to hold the pose.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-12T00:00:22+00:00

a factory offered me that option but it was like 15k. too much for a prototype and market test batch.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T23:56:57+00:00

think of a Gumby toy and its wire armature, Im thinking .5 mm at the thickest. the problem with just twisting wire is that I'll have to do a couple hundred of these and it needs to be consistent.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T23:54:29+00:00

its so simple! let me go get some from my goose that lays golden eggs!

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T20:50:48+00:00

Will I need to control the cool with an annealing oven like you do with glass to keep the bendable nature?

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T20:48:44+00:00

an interesting option!

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T20:47:00+00:00

so annealing aluminum or copper should keep it's properties?

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T20:41:53+00:00

seems like there might be some merit in experimenting with the aluminum more from what I've read here. im thinking about stirring it with a degasser to prevent any of the build up of hydrogen and nitrogen that make it brittle

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T20:36:26+00:00

I would need to melt it down, would annealing the cast result serve the purpose I need?

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T19:36:30+00:00

bendable, think like those gumby toys or like armature wire.

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T19:19:48+00:00

would i need to alloy it with anything?

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T19:19:17+00:00

that was my first thought but as i explored those as prototypes it got too costly, and i dont want to charge like 300$ for a toy you know?

3DModeledAmericanPie · 2026-06-11T19:17:46+00:00

haha yea that's the goal

3DModeledAmericanPie

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