Learn about Wax 3D Printing at Kraftwurx

3D printing encompasses a wide range of manufacturing techniques and technologies. There are more than 25 types of 3D printing technologies in use today. Kraftwurx offers wax 3D printing or wax growing (as it is called in the industry) to create wax patterns for the lost wax investment casting process. Invented in Egypt, lost wax is the same technique used for the past 2000 years to create jewelry. The difference is that today, 3D cad models are used to directly print the model for casting.

Wax Printing Process

A wax 3D printer is commonly used for creating jewelry, artwork and other metal items. It’s also great for the rapid prototyping of products, as well as short-run manufacturing. Wax printers grow the wax or wax-like model from the ground up layer-by-layer to create the part. The was model is encased in investment and heated in a furnace. In the furnace, the wax model is vaporized (lost), leaving a hollow cavity. The molten metal is poured into the hollow space left behind. Once cooled, the investment is removed, leaving the finished cast metal part.

Here’s how you can create wax models for casting: