3D Printing Molds for Lost Wax Casting with Copper

October 25, 2022

Metal 3D printing has been on the upswing for over a decade and continues to accelerate. At Shapeways, this technology is a mainstay, serving customers engaged in industrial manufacturing as well as applications like jewelry making. Materials like Copper, used in Wax Casting, add unique depth to the tremendous line-up of resources and 3D printing metal materials available to Shapeways designers.

Copper Provides Unique Properties

Copper is an essential natural resource. Unlike bronze and brass, which are copper alloys, Shapeways offers a 100% copper material known for malleability and high ductility. Copper does not require much processing for use in today’s applications—and in fact, this material’s history dates back as far as 8,000 BC.

Copper offers excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Because of its ability to heat quickly with a uniform heating profile, Copper is commonly used in applications for manufacturing parts like heat exchangers.

Featuring an initial appearance that takes on an orange-red metallic color, Copper eventually darkens by turning green in color through oxidation. This chemical reaction forms a protective layer on its surface making Copper highly resistant to corrosion and biofouling. While oxidation creates an antiqued appearance often desired for ornamental and unique jewelry, Copper is suitable for use in harsh environments, including aerospace and marine applications. Copper also has antiseptic properties which protect marine organisms, making it an environmentally friendly material for undersea mechanisms like desalination devices and offshore drilling mechanisms.

Combining 3D printing and Wax Casting technology, our Copper 3D printing manufacturing process is capable of producing new geometries that take advantage of the material properties for inventive industrial applications and unique decorative pieces.

Wax Casting Technology for 3D Printing Copper

For designers and engineers eager to try a variation on metal 3D printing technology—but with a fast and more economical edge—Wax Casting is a great option. Also referred to as Investment Casting, Precision Casting, or even cire perdue (French), this unique technology has historically been recognized as a strong suit for foundries. Created around 5,000 years ago to make metal products and ammunition, Lost Wax Casting is performed by pouring liquid metal into molds to create structures.

Paired with high-quality 3D print Lost Wax Casting materials and precious metals like Copper, many Shapeways customers prefer this technique, with 3D printing coming into play during the mold-making process. Shapeways uses a variety of 3D printing materials to create molds to act as vehicles for molten metal which then solidifies. Molds can be 3D printed with thermoplastics like Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic], Sandstone, or metals like Steel.

After a customer uploads a 3D design and chooses Copper, Shapeways transforms the model into a Copper object through Wax Casting. The solid Copper part is cleaned and polished to remove any sharp residue, leaving a natural buffed, shiny surface. Additional hand polishing is offered for a mirror-like shine.

Read about Copper and explore specific design guidelines here.

The Lineup of Wax Casting Materials

Learn more about all the other materials Shapeways offers via Wax Casting too, including the following:

• Brass – An alloy made up of 15% zinc, 5% tin, and 80% copper, Brass is available with a natural matte finish or a shiny polish, and is offered with Gold Plating or Rhodium Plating.

• Bronze – A copper-tin alloy made up of 10% tin and 90% copper, Bronze is often used for jewelry with a vintage appearance, featuring a deep red color, marbling, and silver highlights. Bronze materials are available in natural matte or polished finishes.

• Gold – Both 14-carat and 18-carat gold are available in yellow, white, and rose. Intricate designs can be made for valuable parts or fine jewelry with this precious metal.

• Platinum – One of the highest quality metal materials available, Platinum is a white metal used for luxury products. This material is available in a professional finish.

• Silver – A high-quality alloy, Silver is malleable, popular in the jewelry industry, and offered with the following finishes: natural, polished, fine-detail polished, and antique.

About Shapeways

Enjoy the benefits of this advanced technology and a wide range of materials from Shapeways for 3D printing your creations with accuracy, complex detail, and no minimum or limits in terms of mass customization or single part orders. Shapeways has worked with over 1 million customers in 160 countries to 3D print over 21 million parts! Read about case studies, find out more about Shapeways additive manufacturing solutions, and get instant quotes here.