Growing Innovation with Mycelium

Process of Creating Mycelium Objects

Summary: Our process involves 3D printing a custom mold, filling it with mycelium, and allowing it to incubate. Once grown, the object is removed, dried, and finalized. This eco-friendly process creates durable and sustainable products.

1. 3D Printing the Counter Mold:
The process begins with designing and 3D printing a counter mold. This mold is tailored to the specific shape and dimensions of the desired mycelium object, ensuring a precise fit for the mycelium.

2. Inoculating the Mold with Mycelium:
Once the counter mold is ready, mycelium is carefully placed inside it. This step involves evenly distributing the mycelium material to encourage uniform growth throughout the mold.

3. Incubation Period:
The mold containing the mycelium is left to incubate for approximately five days. During this time, the mycelium grows and colonizes the substrate, taking the shape of the mold. The warm, humid environment facilitates rapid growth, allowing the mycelium to bind and form a solid structure.

4. Unmolding:
After the incubation period, the mycelium object is carefully removed from the mold. This step requires precision to prevent damage to the newly formed object, which is now ready for further processing.

5. Drying in the Oven:
The final step involves placing the unmolded mycelium object in an oven. This process removes excess moisture and ensures that the object becomes durable and long-lasting. The heat helps to stabilize the mycelium structure, making it suitable for various applications.