3D Printed Part to Metal Part Workflows

Basics

• This page goes over various methods to go from a 3D Printed, Standard Plastic (PLA/ABS, etc nothing fancy), Part to a Solid Metal one

Greensand Casting

• Greensand Casting with the 3D Printed Part Used to make the Imprint in the Greensand
• Works well for most applications, may not work with complex geometries, or for multiple "runs" per mold
• Quite reusable?

Lost Plastic

• Essentially use as a low melting point plastic as you can get
• Use little infill?
• Uses Greensand with the plastic part left in
• Any benefits over greensand? perhaps less likely to collapse?
• Lost PLA Casting

Lost Wax

• Greensand Casting with 3d printed imprint, but then wax is poured in and cooled first?

Plaster Cast

• Makes a plaster mold of a 3d printed part
• This is then used for the metal casting
• MAY? be usable for multiple runs
• Has the downside of being more permanent (either will have a pile of cast shards, or will have to stor many cast molds)

Shell/Injestment Casting

• Printed part is coated in ceramic
• Printed part is melted and/or burned out
• Metal is poured
• Ceramic is broken off
• Final Part is cleaned + post processed
• An In Depth Video on the Process by the Youtube Channel "Inside The Mind Of Matt" - more so diy workflow
• A Short Video by Polymaker on their Materials for this Process -more industrial workflow

See Also

• MIG Casting