PLA Sacrificial-Mold for Corsica Mountain Lake

This is a PLA 3D print used as a sacrificial mold for casting plaster, representing a selected topographic fragment around a lake in Corsica.

The digital terrain model was generated from LiDAR HD point cloud data. A specific portion of the landscape was isolated and prepared for printing, focusing on relief, slopes, and shoreline formations that offered strong spatial depth and geological character.

The mold was printed in two interlocking PLA parts to allow casting. However, due to the rigidity of the material and the complexity of the terrain geometry, the mold ultimately had to be broken to release the plaster cast.

Notes & Recommendations:

• Print with light infill and reduced wall thickness to make controlled breakage easier.
• Keep the back surfaces thin to allow partial flexing before destruction.
• Oil the mold thoroughly before pouring plaster to reduce adhesion.
• A heat gun can be carefully applied to soften the PLA and ease removal.