Cultivation of mosaic panels in the incubator.

The beginning of the article " Art mosaic ".

Approximately four months ago, a young man with typical complaints about his wife, mother-in-law, a child, the chief in a compartment with the president and the government addressed me on the profile of my main specialty (practical psychologist). In general, a typical case of depression. The case in our oversaturated information, rush and chronic fatigue time is very common and nothing unusual, and therefore, interesting for this site is not representative.

Another interesting thing is the way that we together with my ward (Sergei) invented to exit from depression. I told Sergei about my home business (mosaic panels), and given his (still school) interest in physics and chemistry, I asked to find information on the possibility of even more accelerating the process of creating mosaic panels in my method (from " lithosmalta ").

In one of the classes we used one of the techniques of revealing creative thinking. In the process of its implementation from the pack of words were accidentally pulled out the words "Brick" and "Mushrooms". I asked Sergei (and he also began to think) how to connect these two words with reference to our problem (with mosaic panels ).

As a result, at first arose a spontaneous idea - "to grow" bricks "of the mosaic immediately on a basis like mushrooms." Discussed, but the ways of implementing this idea were not invented. But, in the process of discussion, the idea has changed. And what if you try to "grow" not the elements of the mosaic, but - the WALL between these elements! Moreover, unlike the multi-colored elements of the mosaic, the space between these elements may well be filled with a mass of one color. And it can even be metal.

I know perfectly well that the best healer from many ailments is an interesting thing, but Sergei at first did not understand what my request had to do with his relationship with his wife, mother-in-law, along with the president and the government :-). Nevertheless, I believed and took up the search for information.

He appeared only after three weeks, when I already thought that he would not appear again. There was a serious excitement in his eyes. Simply put - shone like a "polished nickle." From the threshold he said that he had rummaged through a bunch of books and articles on the Internet, did not find in them direct advice on the task at hand, but in the process of reviewing various "secrets of masters" he himself had a "simple and ingenious" (his words) idea - to grow Copper partitions by galvanic copper build-up at home!

The idea really turned out to be worthwhile in my opinion (glory to scientists developing methods of developing creative thinking!). Together we have finalized it. I quickly assembled an adjustable stabilized DC power source for a galvanic bath (I was an electronic engineer in my first formation), and we started experimenting.

The essence of the new technological process is the following: since the lithosmalt used for making mosaic panels is initially in a liquid state, now it should not be poured into molds to get the pieces of the right size, but poured IMMEDIATELY into the prepared form of a future mosaic panel with grown copper walls Elements of a mosaic.

Honeycombs The panel on which the cells separating these future pieces of the mosaic are already prepared - like bee honeycombs (see photo 1). Only honeycombs have the same shape and size, although, in principle, the mosaic (as in a child's designer) can be laid out with pieces of the same shape and size. Only, in my opinion, it will look more "childish". Unlike bee honeycombs, the "honeycombs" created for the mosaic panel have different sizes and shapes, corresponding to the mosaic pattern.

The main "highlight" of the idea is that all the partitions on the panels are grown simultaneously and automatically by galvanic process!

Galvanic bath Just imagine - the original image is first converted to a mosaic form on the computer (manually or using the COREL PAINTER X program), then a partition drawing is selected (using PHOTOSHOP). The picture is transferred to the substrate and partitions are grown in the home galvanic bath. Then it only remains to fill the cells with lithosmalta.

Now Sergei and I are working on creating a small-scale production line for the production of mosaic inserts for a single furniture factory. Schematic representation of a galvanic bath (see Figure 2).

Now, as usual, a few economic calculations: On a panel measuring 50 x 50 cm, with a thickness of a mosaic layer of 3 mm, lithosmalts take approximately 0.8 liters. The cost is about 100 rubles. The area of ​​copper partitions is about 10% of the panel area - 75 cc, the cost is about 500 rubles. Partitions are "grown" about a day (24 hours). The current source for the galvanic bath is approximately 200 W. The cost per day is 10 rubles. The cost of the base is about 30 rubles. Total: 640руб.

The furniture factory agrees to buy a panel of this size for about 1300 rubles. a piece. You can estimate the income yourself. And here is an example of the original photograph of the flower and a prototype of a mosaic panel, made using the technology of "growing" (photo 3 and 4).

Mosaic panel

All questions can be asked by e-mail: [email protected]
With respect and wishes for success and prosperity, Mikhail Babin