New Feature or direction for printing in wax
It has come to my attention that you can use 3D printers to make a variety of molds. This means that I can expand my prints beyond the limited materials that are available to print with though casting.
Casting from molds is easy enough, but the next and more complicated part came when I wanted to cast in molten metals. I don't know of any plastic I can print with that could accomplish this. I decided that a form of lost material casting is the way to go. After a little digging I did manage to find wax filament and wax based SLA solutions.
The question is what machines can used these? Will my MK3S print in wax? Will the Prusa SLA print with wax solutions?
Anyone have any ideas?
JP, Ever thought if making a lost material casting filament?
btw... the next evolution of this is printing in chocolate... so please be ready <jk>
RE: New Feature or direction for printing in wax
There are a number of Youtube videos where they use PLA as the mold for melting out.
This guy gets some pretty good results using PLA:
I'm jealous if you have all the metal casting equipment on hand, it's something I've always wanted to try..
RE: New Feature or direction for printing in wax
I think the way you do this is to print your part, use that to make your mold then cast your wax in the mold. I suppose it may also be possible to 3d print the wax mold directly but that may make it more difficult to post process the mold to reduce or eliminate layer lines.
RE: New Feature or direction for printing in wax
The question has been asked before on the forum here
In the thread they mention a wax filament for casting, maybe this is what you are looking for.
Like many others, I am interested in metal casting... Lets hear about your findings and if the MK3 can be used for wax printing.
Have a look at my models on Printables.com 😉
RE: New Feature or direction for printing in wax
Print2Cast looks like something to play with that the MK3S should be able to print. It's temperatures area little more than I'd like, but then again, how hot can I get a torch? If I get into it, I'll buy or build a small induction furnace.
My dad has this awesome set of tools... Generational tinkerer. In fact, I don't currently have a project for this... but I want to and casting sounds like a cool next thing to do with the printer. Imagine printing and casting that cool cosplay sword, gun or dagger. Better yet, gears or durable parts. But casting doesn't require a lot of special tools. Metal, heat, something to heat in and a fire-proof place to pour. I'm not casting an anchor or anything, most likely things smaller than 20x20x20cm.
I was originally thinking wax because my dad is a retired dentist that kept all of his tools, including the lost wax centrifugal caster he used for crowns (and later, a ton of custom rings for mom out of dental gold)
RE: New Feature or direction for printing in wax
For simple metal objects there is another way.
I use spherical 'cannon ball' lead weights for trolling when fishing. They are expensive but I have all this scrap lead....
So I designed a printable two part mould from which I cast cheap plaster moulds in which I then cast the lead.
Read that line carefully.
Cheap builder's plaster doesn't survive many uses, two or three maybe, at molten lead temperatures but plaster is cheap and it's easy to cast another mould. There are specialised technical casting plasters and dental plasters if you need something for hotter melts.
Hth, Cheerio,
RE: New Feature or direction for printing in wax
I have 3d printer both rocket motor moulds and nose cone moulds. Prusa printers are great for casting. I am still not sure how you cast lead with them.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog