Making a Casted Aluminum Safe Case

by DuralM in Workshop > Molds & Casting

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Making a Casted Aluminum Safe Case

Making a casted aluminum safe case. Part 1 of 2
Making a casted aluminum safe case.  Part 2 of 2

I’ve decided to make a case for my camera and its accessories. I wanted it to be aluminum casted and of course safe. Therefore, according my plan, it should be very durable.

Decorative Plastic Foam

Pattern. Decorative plastic foam for aluminum casting.jpg
Green sand.jpg
Loading a crucible.jpg
Pouring aluminum. Mold leaking.jpg
Damaged because of the leak.jpg

I made 2 patterns using decorative plastic foam. The thickness of material was from 3 to 6 mm (0.12-0.24 ins). As aluminum scrap I used cans, pipes and some other aluminum things. The first casting failed because the mold started leaking somewhere on the bottom. Therefore, I had to remake it.

Remaking the First Part and Pouring the Second

Aluminum casting second attempt.jpg
Casted aluminum item not perfect.jpg
Aluminum casting 3d attempt.jpg
ALuminum part perfect quality.jpg

The second and the third parts were good enough.

Fixing Latches and Hinges

Polishing aluminum.jpg
Stainless steel cover plates.jpg
Glued stainless steel plates.jpg
Fixing case hinges.jpg
Drilling holes in the case.jpg
Drilling holes for case latches.jpg

The next step was to drill holes and to fix latches and hinges. In addition, I decided to make stainless steel cover plates to fix the sides curvature.

The Case Interior and Exterior

Making a case interior.jpg
Divide the case on 3 sections.jpg
Plastic sheets as a case cover.jpg

I glued polyethylene foam with polymer adhesive. To cover the outer surface I used plastic sheets.

How to Use the Case?

Safe aluminum case could be used for a camera.jpg
Safe case could be used for a gun.jpg

This case could be used for a camera and accessories, for some tools, a gun and so on...

Durability Test

Case durability test.jpg
Durability test passed.jpg
Casted aluminum safe case.jpg

The safe case (first damaged part) passed the test! I threw it from 3 meters (9.8 ft) high. No damages!