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RE: Is 3d printing a viable alternative to injection molding?
Nice toy! Maybe a little high for garage use, but very nice! Here is a filament that will work in Our printers, and allow the use of the lost wax process to cast what ever metal you want to match the printed part. :)
Direct metal printing is still a game for the select few, but printing for casting is very much doable. I have been doing quite a few masters for sandcasting and though I have not tried it yet I have all the equipment for doing investment casting from prints
Excellent! I got some Delft Clay from Rio Grande, that acts like sand casting, but is Very fine for detail. I need to order the ceramic dip coating, but ready on everything else.
Wax printing just looks fun! I can get hot enough for steel, but not stainless yet.
Wow steel and iron - thats hot. I have "only" done bronze and silver. i have some posts about my experiments with casting metal from prints. Here and here.
I have other posts with similar content but these where the most obvious ones. The main reason for wax casting is detail. Even with delft sand(which is also what I use) the details of investment casting is way better, which means less work afterwards (I assume the ceramic coating is similar to investments casting?). Also the limitations on shape is less.
Yes the ceramic coatings are the shell for the investment casting. They usually dip in fine several timers, then in coarser material for added strength on the form. When you do precious metals, they recommend a centrifuge to avoid porosities, but I have not tried that, and it seems like a good flux would lift out problems well. I have been watching you pour, and you are ahead of me on videos! That I have NOT tried yet! Keep on pouring! :)