Techniques for generating a stable, force-resisting positive or negative
representation of a shape. A state-changeable mixture includes uniform,
generally ordered, closely-spaced solid bodies and a liquid carrier medium
of relatively similar density, with the liquid medium filling any voids or
interstices between the bodies and excluding air or gas bubbles from the
mixture. Within the mixture, the solid bodies can be caused to transition
from a near-liquid or fluent condition of mobility to a stable,
force-resisting condition through introduction and then extraction of a
slight excess quantity of the carrier medium. To create mobility, this
excess quantity or transition liquid is introduced to create a fluent
condition by providing a slight clearance between the bodies which permits
the gently-forced introduction of at least two simultaneous slip planes
between ordered bulk masses of the bodies at any point in the mixture.
Transition to the stable condition is caused by extraction of the
transition liquid, removing the clearance between bodies and causing them
to make stable, consolidated contact.
