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Machinable Wax filament

Discussion in 'Printing Filament' started by Paul Vladuchick, Feb 24, 2016.

  1. Paul Vladuchick

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    Hey everyone!

    So I stumbled upon something potentially very cool from a supplier of mine.
    I was looking at printing the casting patterns and he mentioned using Machinable Wax's filament used in a loss-wax method of casting metal.

    In my line of work, this is very interesting to me, but was wondering if anyone else had tired the filament.
    I ordered myself a sample and will test it out in the printer.

    http://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52

    and apparently there are a number of foundries that will use the prints you make in their casting process. seems to be pretty cheap over the traditional methods.
     
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  2. robert sanchez

    robert sanchez Active Member

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    Not to date myself but back in our senior year at LMU (2000) we had a 3d printer that printed in wax only. We then used the wax prints to make investment castings over in the art department since they had all the equipment to turn a wax part into metal.

    Please let us know if this works well. If so that would be awesome!!

    Thanks
     
  3. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Sounds cool, though I think PLA is also good for lost investment casting as it burns out clean
     
  4. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    That has been my experience. Lost PLA casting is cool.
     
  5. PACNOR RC AEROSYSTEMS

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    This makes me happy! I'd love to start casting gas powered RC motors.
     
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  6. PACNOR RC AEROSYSTEMS

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    Anyone try this yet? If not I'll be the guinea pig at the end of the month.
     
  7. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    I have done lost PLA casting, I have not tried this specific filament.
    Any PLA will work for the method I used. This filament would likely be a little easier to use.
     
  8. daniel871

    daniel871 Well-Known Member

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    You'll have to modify the firmware to allow extrusion at 140-150C as the firmware currently locks extrusion to being at a minimum of 170C.
     
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  9. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Actually, some firmware versions have 190C as minimum. Good point though.
     
    #9 mark tomlinson, Mar 9, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2016
  10. TimboHamilton

    TimboHamilton New Member

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    Thanks for the info on the firmware. I ordered a sample of Machinable Wax filament and that was ONE OF my problems. Before installing the firmware, no wax was coming out of the extruder. Now that I have installed the firmware, I am getting a small amount of wax from the extruder during calibration and for the outline that is printed before the printer actually starts to work on the actual object, but after that I am not getting any wax out of the extruder.If anybody has used this filament and has any relavent experience to share, I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

    Thanks,

    Timbo
     
  11. TerryTorrey

    TerryTorrey New Member

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    Mark, what is the process you use, do you heat the mold to burn out the PLA or just hot enough to melt it out?
     
  12. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    I usually have top ports and pouring in the metal (gently, slowly) will flash all of the PLA away. *POOF* gone. Smoke goes out the ports ... At least with the metals we have tried (brass/aluminium)
     

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