I 've been looking recently for a technique to transfer my Shapeways 3D prints in metal without printing directly in stainless steel, but instead, using metal casting. Printing directly in stainless steel goes very expensive and it is very difficult to take advantage of the final product.
So, I followed
this forum post regarding new Shapeways materials. Wax was my suggestion in order to give the printed wax model to a foundry for metal process.
I also saw
another forum post by Zorink, who used the White Strong and Flexible material instead of wax.
Similar to Zorink, I have a Dutch sculptor friend,
Barbara Perquin, who uses a special metal casting technique to produce her sculptures. Here is what she does: She usually takes a real branch of a tree and gives it to a foundry. The foundry behaves to that branch as it would be wax and melts metal on it. As a result, the branch burns and is replaced by the metal.
I think this is a technique that worths a further exploration. What I mean is, that we can explore any special requirements for this kind of metal casting, like wall thickness etc.