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 Method of “investment” or “lost wax” metal casting is
known since ancient times. The process is simple – a
master model or sculpture made of wax is being molded in
a one-time-use ceramic (clay or plaster) mold. After the
mold is cured, wax is being melted out of the mold and
metal is poured into the cavity. The mold than will be
broken in order to reveal the metal casting. Investment
casting method existed practically unchanged for
hundreds and hundreds of years and being used by
jewelers and sculptors.
 Development
of rapid prototyping gave a new life, form and purpose
to the ancient technique. One of the newest technologies
called Multi-Jet Modeling (MJM), patented by 3D Systems,
combined with use of new VisiJet® wax materials lead to
the ability to produce real wax patterns with extremely
high resolution.
Jewelry
industry was first to appreciate and adapt the new
technology. Master models of digitally designed jewelry
products could now be produced directly on ProJet
machines, in real wax, with precision, complexity and
amount of detailing like never before. A wax patterns
could be reproduced in quantities, remaining identical
and not losing quality due to re-cast.
ProJet technology was also recognized and adapted by
dentistry, precise instruments and medical industries
and product design community.
 Due to the high cost a use of this technology in
professional model making is only justified for highly
paid projects. We moved to adopt this method as soon as
we learnt about it and believe that such quality and
ability to obtain so precise and detailed real metal
parts is worth paying for.
So far the most logical application of precision
investment casting in model making is producing masters
for pewter casting.
Pewter (white metal) casting is a simple, efficient and
cost effective replication technique, adopted by
professional model makers and small manufacturers a long
time ago. Producing masters for pewter casting, that
would be able to withstand a temperature and pressure
while making a hard rubber mold, was a problem. Use of
precision investment casting combined with ProJet
technology made production of such masters hassle free.
We are sure that as this technology will be developed
further a cost of will be decrease and we will be able
to find more applications for high resolution real metal
parts and components. |
