Sand Casting - Fine Detail Test Model

This sand-casting pattern has various fine details to help determine what wort of “resolution” you will be able to cast using a 3D printed pattern with your sand and technique.  The opening of the squares ranges from 10mm to 0.5m as marked and the bottom and depth of each square is half that (eg 5mm to 0.25mm).  There is also a continuous triangle.  Both are in relief and incised.   

Like with 3D test patterns, the aim of these is to help calibrate your:

• Pattern Creation (eg FDM vs Resin, Smoothing, Release agents etc)
• Sand “Quality” (eg Green vs Oil Bonded)
• Resolution (how well can you see the details)
• Surface Finish (how rough or smooth is it)
• Ramming Technique (Sifted, hard vs soft ramming)
• Pattern Pulling Technique

In looking at these examples, you can see: 

• How much detail you can get with sand casting!  
• I pulled the pattern off and/or over packed the Oil Bonded sand as it broke some of the squares off.
• The detail on the Oil Bonded sand is better than my Green Sand (and the sand grane on the flat parts are tighter together).  
• There is less loose sand on the pattern left behind with the Oil Bonded Sand.

In conclusion, I'd:

• Use raised details if possible as they are easier to mold and less likely to clog very fine details like in this pattern. 
• If using incised details make it as big as possible, add more draft and lower the depth to make it easier to pull from the sand.   
• Use a Resin over FDM if you can for printing your patterns as the prints are far smoother and less grabby.
• Get better with ramming and pattern extraction!