La M Studio
Jewelry studio and foundry in Monterrey, Mexico — custom lost-wax castings, artistic metalwork, and the engineering that makes it all work.
La M Studio is a jewelry studio and foundry I co-founded with my cousin Miguel Llaguno in Monterrey, Mexico. Our family operated aluminum and steel foundries — that chapter has closed, but the love for metal lingered with us. We create custom pieces and offer casting services to artists and designers, with a small line of our own designs inspired by the Sierra Madre mountains and Mexican culture. la-m-studio.com ↗
There's something irreplaceable about watching red-hot metal flow into a mold you designed and built yourself — and then with patience uncovering rings, pendants, and sculptures that didn't exist before.
The Work
The Process
We integrated modern techniques — resin 3D printing for wax-equivalent patterns, and a custom vacuum casting system designed from the ground up with our engineering background. Meticulous experimentation and iteration led to repeatable precision and incredible surface detail. All while having fun in the process.
Engineering Built for the Studio
- Custom electric kiln — ESP32-controlled with OTA firmware, SSR driver PCB, and InfluxDB telemetry for firing schedules
- Vacuum casting system — repurposed mechanical pump from the Fusor project, with a custom trap, dual-output manifold, and stainless filtration
- Custom vacuum chamber — modular ring system to accommodate different flask sizes
- Custom degassing chamber — sealed lid design that works with any container size for investment mixing