Wax
CIREX is known for making products using lost-wax casting. The wax models are characteristic to this. CIREX can produce a prototype by printing wax models or casting using a silicone or prototype mold. Distinct types of wax are used for these techniques.
WAX FOR 3D PRINTING
Two types of wax are used for printing 3D wax models. A specific wax is used for the 3D model itself, and a different wax is used for the supporting parts. Supports are necessary to build a model. Prototypes based on 3D wax models have the same mechanical properties as the parts made in later batches in the casting process (such as dimensional accuracy and surface roughness).
As a special wax is used and the printing of wax takes a relatively long time, the prototypes are more expensive than when using wax from the regular casting process.
Read more about wax printing here:
WAX FOR SILICONE AND PROTOTYPE MOLD
When casting wax models using a silicone or prototype mold, the same wax is used as in the regular casting process. Prototypes produced with this wax deliver the same results after the casting process (such as dimensional accuracy and surface roughness) as products from the regular CIREX batch process. Because wax from the regular casting process is used, this is a relatively cheap material for prototyping.
Read more about the silicone mold and the prototype mold here:
- Silicone mold
- Prototype mold
CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
- Low surface roughness
- High dimensional accuracy
- Printing wax models is relatively cheap when several models are made
- Suitable for production of small numbers
