New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?  

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

1: So I am looking for a decent quality printer that can use "wax" filament (for "Lost Wax" casting).

FDM printers (like the Prusa) use various plastic filaments--not wax--which are not generally suitable for "Lost Wax" casting. (If there's a suitable exception, I'm not aware of it yet.)

Also would like to get a hardened tip and use some of the Carbon fibre (chopped?) TOUGH filament, which I believe needs a higher temperature?

Some CF filaments do require somewhat higher temperatures, but it depends on the type of plastic infused with the CF (e.g. PLA, ABS, Nylong, PC, etc.) Adding CF does not always increase the strength/toughness of a filament or the prints. In general, the toughest filaments are Nylon-based (some like PC i.e. Polycarbonate), and there are different formularions for different applications. You can learn more on Taulman's site and Google/YouTube.

3: Also I am looking for the best quality (resolution) print I can get at this price, I am ok doing work to the cast metal etc and also the print - but it's nice to start with a good quality print. Average size of print will be roughly 3cm Cubed. So - small.

For something that small and highly detailed, you might want to look into some of the newer LCD/SLA printers. There are some downsides (messy chemicals, post-processing/curing, etc.), but using LCDs in lieu of DLP has brought the price down considerably.

4: Finally my other option could be a FlashForge around the same price - but I can't upgrade? (can I upgrade the Original Prusa i3 MK3 in the future?)

Probably. There have been upgrades from the MK2 to MK 2.5 and MK 2.5 to MK 3. Where PR is going in the future is a common topic on this forum.

We all began as noobs at some point. 😉

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

Did a quicky search and found machinablewax. com. I had heard and seen on YouTube where some used a lost material for casting in the past. Guess someone jumped on it and developed filament for that specific purpose. Note: I just read of few lines of the wax filament description and it did make mention of the possibility of having to use a different extruder in some cases.

Resolution on PLA is pretty good with just the standard 0.4mm nozzle. But one can always get smaller nozzles and increase detail in a print. Smaller nozzles usually mean easier to clog though.

Personally I would go with something "open source" like a Prusa. Easier to get parts and modify to meet your needs.

Neal

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

my 2 cents worth.
I was just looking into that filament https://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52 was almost going to order one for fun. I think it acts like flexible filament, but softer. I bet it would have to be printed slow like flexible maybe ever slower because it's soft. a shame a roll is 50$ makes it hard to justify buying a roll for science. I will see if they have samples, maybe I can get a tiny roll to try.

I have printed flexible filament into molds for my daughters Crayola crayon melters.

this seems to be what they say about the "lost wax" filament
"Here are a few startup recommendations to help get you started. Please keep in mind that these suggestions can be dependent on both your printer design and the geometry of the object you are printing.
a. Extrusion temperature = 140°C-150°C
b. Bed temperature = 80°-90°C
c. Shells = 2-3 (for most models)
d. Print speed is typically 20 to 70mm/s
e. Prints best when layers have enough time to cool. This can be achieved in several ways. A skirt/brim with all layers, active cooling fan, printing multiple identical items, sacrificial pillar, or extra pause time between layers. A caution here is to not cool too fast. This will cause exaggerated warp."

all seems like the mk3 can handle it. I have not messed with smaller nozzles yet. but some of the people that print miniatures might have more info on PQ

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

you tube video on wax

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

a. Extrusion temperature = 140°C-150°C

all seems like the mk3 can handle it. I have not messed with smaller nozzles yet. but some of the people that print miniatures might have more info on PQ

Without a custom mod to the firmware this isn't possible. The minimum temp the MK3 will extrude filament at is 190°C.

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

wow sorry, guess ive been so worried about max temps stuff ive forgotten something like that... my bad. now I feel we need to ask them to change it in the firmware.

now im kinda bumed out about this. was soo close to ordering some of that wax stuff.

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

[...] Without a custom mod to the firmware this isn't possible. The minimum temp the MK3 will extrude filament at is 190°C.
Have not tried it myself, but someone reported success lowering temps to 170C via M302 S170.

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

[...] Without a custom mod to the firmware this isn't possible. The minimum temp the MK3 will extrude filament at is 190°C.
Have not tried it myself, but someone reported success lowering temps to 170C via M302 S170.

I can confirm that M302 does work.

Peter

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

I have a friend doing "lost PLA" casting and he is having fun casting tabletop gaming miniatures google 'Lost PLA Casting' not sure it would provide fine enough detail for you though things like layer marks might be a problem... also he casts Aluminum as his top temperature metal and softer metals like lead and tin (and no lead pewter) not silver or gold so I have no Idea on that end. He did tell me that he had to do more dips into the plaster like coating then he did for using casting wax

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

Thank you ALL for your responses, I feel a bit more confident about this.
I think the Resin SLA printers have a lot of promise:
The Peopoly Moai is amazing for the price - And there are cast-able resins (will burn into gas from molds) designed for jewellers. This would be perfect but a little beyond the Budget. And I also want to be able to use string filament.

I have watched the Lost PLA videos - and it seems like a usable option.

At the moment I am stuck with the purchase of the Prusa because it is being bought for me under condition that they use an Amex card, which apparently Prusa does not take. Oi Vey! So close. It's really out of my hands, unless anyone has any ideas.....Amex wise

Awaiting a further reply from Prusa. Hopefully we can work something out.
Cheers All
WB

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

I think some of the money changers in the electronic temple may be able to help with the AmEx. I ordered something that only took PayPal once. I opened a PayPal account and used my VISA card to send money to PayPal and PayPal paid the vendor.

Round about true but it works. I believe PayPal takes AmEx.

Neal

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

Round about true but it works. I believe PayPal takes AmEx

Brilliant😀
I must be so far in the woods I can’t see the trees. Such an obvious way round the issue.
Thank you indeed (and everyone else!)
Will B

Re: New To Printing: Prusa: Right for me?

Every order I've placed here (1 printer, a supply of spares and an MMU2 on order) has been charged to my Amex. No issues.

Maybe it's a US thing. I do remember thinking it might be a problem on the first order, but it certainly had no issues charging my card 6 weeks before shipping 🙂