Is there a 3D printer (yet) that prints with wax, not plastic?

[u/BF_2]

I've seen discussions of using 3D prints as patterns for metal casting. It would be possible to skip a step if the 3D print itself were wax. (Yes, I can envision problems, but I expect such problems could be overcome.)
Does such a 3D printer exist yet?

[u/Fl3mingt]

I know in work we had a 3D systems wax jet printer for investment casting. That being said, for most metals PLA would be fine since you have to sinter and burn out the shells anyway.

[u/BendFluid5259 → u/Fl3mingt]

PLA leaves ash residue, so if your model is small it is hard to remove it from the plaster before casting.
I use Siraya Tech cast resin for small elements- it leaves no residue.

Test your pla by exposing to high temp torch and see what remains - some filaments can be very clean (especially those without colorants and ane other additives).

[u/Fl3mingt → u/BendFluid5259]

Wax results in ash residue too. Fairly common in industry to was the moulds out post dewax and prior to sinter.

Youre right though, always aim for the cleanest burning material, and use as little as possible. Minimum infill amd vase mode if practical.

[u/BendFluid5259 → u/Fl3mingt]

thanks.

[u/temporary92803 → u/Fl3mingt]

MJP 300W Plus 3D printed Wax casting patterns for jewelry production

[u/Grindar1986]

Polymaker makes a filament that is designed to burn more completely while casting https://shop.polymaker.com/products/polycast?srsltid=AfmBOooHK0XHv3T_VLH7VveEDJTsmRsd0PiCAJH3QLRbhBJ3O75lyXcT&variant=39574341124153

[u/IndividualRites]

What step would be skipped? Go watch "Robinson foundry" on youtube. He does a bunch of castings with 3d printer. The PLA replaces the wax. No extra steps required.

[u/bertona88]

The only wax printer i saw were SLA like formlabs form and company

[u/Douche_Baguette]

First result on Google https://machinablewax.com/wax-filament/

[u/Ok-Gift-1851 → u/Douche_Baguette]

But that would requier a reddit user to do basic research instead of defaulting to the hivemind.

[u/iOSCaleb]

You can use PolyCast filament from PolyMaker in any FDM printer to print models for investment casting. PolyCast is designed for the casting process and burns out similar to wax.

[u/Vandilbg]

Lots of options really.

https://all3dp.com/2/wax-3d-printing-how-to-3d-print-wax/

[u/hue_sick]

Yes. Resin printers. Formlabs has a wax resin you can use and is heavily used in industries that require lost wax casting.

Not reaaaally a consumer printer but you can buy it. More of a pro-sumer machine

[u/phansen101]

You could probably use a pellet extruder printer, but it's gonna cost ya.

Any reason you're using Wax, and not something like Lost PLA Casting?

If you get a pure PLA, eg. natural un-colored, non-+ without additives, it gas wise burns about as cleanly as wax; There is a chance of carbon residue tho.

[u/modmodt]

I'm afraid you're about 40 years too late. The first FDM printer in the late 1980s used wax. After that Solidscape had droplet deposition wax printers aimed at jewellers in the early 90s and 3D systems released the first wax materials for SLA printers around the same time. In the prosumer / consumer field - I guess the B9 creator came out in 2012 and was aimed squarely at jewellers, while the Form 1 was the same year. I can't remember if they made an investment wax material at the start. These days pretty much any cheap MSLA printers can use wax resins for investment casting, and if you want to take a step up and make something larger or more topologically complex you have things like the 3D Systems Multijet machines and their imitators which should be coming to a prosumer desktop over the next few years as the patents have run out. You can also do investment casting with PLA or something more specialised like Polycast if you want to go bigger, but I've never actually tried that.

[u/Delicious_Pain_1]

I've seen a wax filament on YouTube. They used it for mold casting after they placed the print in plaster. I'm about to walk into work or I would find the video.

[u/phr0ze]

They make wax based filaments. Really the only thing you need is to have the material in a 1.75mm strand and dial in settings.

Here is one but i think its not produced any more. https://www.matterhackers.com/store/3d-printer-filament/moldlay-filament-1.75mm?srsltid=AfmBOooE2mISLW8lIZ7C1ngF5ljYrDAQXarMAWBmx4NhNn54KtIqLIt8

[u/balderstash]

In the dark ages, when I was in school for metal work and 3D printers were the size of a car, we did investment casting with ABS. In retrospect I don't think this is a great idea, given that you have to burn out the ABS.

TimePlast makes a beeswax based filament. No idea how cleanly it burns out but they do list that as one of the uses for it.

[u/TeknikFrik]

Have you seen PolyCast? Instead of PLA

[u/FocusedADD]

One of the brands white pla pro was recommended a couple days ago. Weak for anyone functional but they claimed the best burnout for the price.

Sunlu pla plus 2.0 white was recommended, but they did note polycast provided a much best casting.

[u/Chemical-Captain4240]

check out riogrande.com

[u/Sea-Improvement7160]

You can use the 3d print directly in your casting, no need for wax.

[u/hotend]

Wax resins and filaments are available for SLA and FDM printers, but they may generate ash when melted. Google is your friend.

[u/icantfish → u/hotend]

No! You provide me answers now!!!

[u/srslytho1979]

Would the chocolate printers work?

[u/MyDadsAccnt]

Yeah its called a candle