3D Printing a Wax Pattern for Investment Casting

The part on the left is 3D printed in wax using the ProJet MJP 2500 IC. The part on the right is a metal part casted using the 3D printed wax part. The normal method of investment casting involves creating a metal tool to produce the wax pattern. This tool is machined from a metal block. However, directly 3D printing the wax pattern eliminates the costly and time consuming tooling step giving you wax patterns that you can use to start casting the same day. The investment casting process remains the same. Just that the tooling step is eliminated.