| wax printers? [message #13520] Thu, 10 June 2010 10:18 UTC |
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Hi all,
I love shapeways, and it's great that they've switched their printer onto high quality mode, but I need even more detail for my next project!!
does anybody know where I can get a model printed with a high detailed wax printer? (shapeways were gonna get a a wax printer, but now it seems unlikely since they discovered the high quality switch on their printer - which I stupidly pointed out :S - kinda shot myself in the foot there...)
Many thanks
Sean
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13753 is a reply to message #13717 ] Thu, 17 June 2010 09:41 UTC |
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look for a printer with a Solidscape machine... best prints i've seen, bar none.
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13758 is a reply to message #13520 ] Thu, 17 June 2010 12:38 UTC |
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HI What are you going to use the wax for.... if I may ask
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13924 is a reply to message #13758 ] Wed, 23 June 2010 13:14 UTC |
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Ok, well your objet edan printer 500V is a fine printer, one of the best infact - when used on high quality mode, which most of the time you don't, so this causes awful stepping in the printed models (on high speed mode) which I find completely unusable (I print 1/6 scale and smaller - so I have to resculpt back into the model) as it stands, when you switch the printer back to high speed mode I have to use www.moddler.com to print my models (slightly cheaper and is always switched onto high quality mode)
Anyway, high quality mode or not, miniature figures just don't print out well because of the stepping. Projet hd's (which prints in acrylic) is another good solution, it prints at a slightly lower layer thickness of 0.045mm with much less stepping, but is expensive, and the perfactory prints at a higher layer thickness (compared to your objet edan's high quality mode) at 0.015mm and has a higher resolution as well - but this is reflected in the price and is just too expensive (from the companies I've found who use it) for larger non jewellery type objects. So this leves me with the solidscape wax printer which prints at a higher layer thickness than all of these printer and has a much more reasonable price tag to it (at www.cadjewelrydesign.com) which will print my figure (a 75mm figure in this case) with all of the detail, no steps and no prep work (priming and sanding down and then realizing that most of the detail is gone!!)
and if you want any more reasons just look at this model produced on a solidscape - 
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13936 is a reply to message #13924 ] Thu, 24 June 2010 05:54 UTC |
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| SDabbs wrote on Wed, 23 June 2010 13:14 |
Anyway, high quality mode or not, miniature figures just don't print out well because of the stepping. Projet hd's (which prints in acrylic) is another good solution, it prints at a slightly lower layer thickness of 0.045mm with much less stepping, but is expensive
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There's a wealth of valuable info in that post. please allow me to clarify the ProJet HD / Invision HR niche a little, for the few users who might have need of it.
ProJet HD was formerly branded as Invision HR: same manufacturer, same material, same specs. Hobbyists who need that technology are probably best served by Printapart.com, which builds Invision HR parts in the highest-resolution UHD mode. That gives a layer thickness of 0.031mm, for an effective build resolution of 800 layers-per-inch and XY resolution of 656x656 dots-per-inch.
It's not as detailed as SolidScape's wax prints, but it's a great source if you've got a need for small, detailed thermoset-acrylic parts. The parts are said to be suitable for investment casting / lost wax.
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13947 is a reply to message #13936 ] Thu, 24 June 2010 11:47 UTC |
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Excellent link - veywetpaint, I will certainly bookmark this company - do you know what there prices are like?
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13961 is a reply to message #13947 ] Fri, 25 June 2010 07:07 UTC |
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| SDabbs wrote on Thu, 24 June 2010 11:47 |
Excellent link - veywetpaint, I will certainly bookmark this company - do you know what there prices are like?
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It's about 3x the price of a comparable Objet ("detail") part from Shapways. Expensive, but not bad for ProJet HD quality. Especially since they use the VisiJet HR 200 material. You get to choose your price-point based on priority. (You get a discount for allowing scheduling flexibility.)
I have two gripes, illustrated in this picture: Click for picture. The blue part at left was built by Printapart. (The other part was built on my own SD300 machine.)
1. Subtle interference patterns sometimes appear on curved surfaces. Is it a side-effect of UHD mode?
2. Support material leaves a waxy residue, which turns white if not cleaned off. That's not a problem for casting patterns.
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13967 is a reply to message #13961 ] Fri, 25 June 2010 09:55 UTC |
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Thanks for that 
That's wierd about the interference patterns - I've never heard of that problem before
Where did you purchase your SD300? (if you don't mind me asking) how much did you get it for?
Do you know of any companies who print with a solidscape (aside from the ones mentioned already)
Thanks!!
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13969 is a reply to message #13967 ] Fri, 25 June 2010 10:24 UTC |
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Where are you in the world? I know of a couple of places in the UK.
Bill Bedford
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| Re: wax printers? [message #13977 is a reply to message #13969 ] Fri, 25 June 2010 11:23 UTC |
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I'm in the UK too! (although the companies I've found so far charge far too much)
What places do you know?
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| Re: wax printers? [message #14412 is a reply to message #13967 ] Tue, 06 July 2010 05:19 UTC |
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| SDabbs wrote on Fri, 25 June 2010 09:55 |
Where did you purchase your SD300? (if you don't mind me asking) how much did you get it for?
Do you know of any companies who print with a solidscape (aside from the ones mentioned already)
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I bought the SD300 through SolidVision, a dealer in New England. You can find specs, videos, pictures, pricing, and even a review from MCADCafé at their web site here.
I also started a blog to share my experiences at http://mysd300.blogspot.com/
As for other Solidscape printing services, I see several candidates in Additive3D's "Art & Jewelry" list here. Some examples are Innovative CAD Technologies, PrecisionDesignStudio, and RPWax.
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| Re: wax printers? [message #14509 is a reply to message #14412 ] Wed, 07 July 2010 16:09 UTC |
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Hi guys,
we love wax printing also! And we know you do too!
We are testing it, but are not ready yet to introduce it.
Keep an eye on our news letter and you might be surprised in the near future.
regards,
Peter
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| Re: wax printers? [message #14520 is a reply to message #14509 ] Wed, 07 July 2010 19:18 UTC |
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Hi,
that's great !  Can't wait to see some updates on this manner.
Could you post some photos of your test prints ? Or some particular info about what machine you're trying, amount of detail etc. ?
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44402 is a reply to message #13520 ] Thu, 23 February 2012 21:43 UTC |
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Has shapeways ever mentioned that wax printing will EVER become a reality? It has been almost 2 years since this was first mentioned, and I have yet to see it happen 
I am very interested in prototyping different parts that must first be made in wax then casted in silicone and reproduced in silicone. The other materials shape ways produces are much too porous or not detailed enough for this.
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44422 is a reply to message #44405 ] Fri, 24 February 2012 09:19 UTC |
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Unfortunately, the wax we currently is too fragile and brittle to ship.
This model was packed very carefully in cotton, but still broke.
Even if you touch it, it will already break.
Till we find a good wax material, or good way of shipping this will very hard for us to offer.
Kind regards,
Mitchell Jetten
Customer Service Agent
Shapeways
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44636 is a reply to message #44429 ] Wed, 29 February 2012 12:35 UTC |
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Yes - this would be an IDEAL material for our purposes. Please add as fast as you can!
Can anyone recommend a printing service for wax in the USA?
Thanks!
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44639 is a reply to message #44637 ] Wed, 29 February 2012 14:09 UTC |
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Did that already. It's been the #2 most requested feature for a LONG time.
There was a lot of excitement generated last July with the blog post - and there seems to be a general call for this type of material.
I would guess Shapeway's business would dramatically increase with all the jewelers who could use this material for their process.
Hoping they add it soon - in the meantime - anyone suggest anybody in the US who prints in the green wax?
Thanks!
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44667 is a reply to message #44639 ] Wed, 29 February 2012 21:15 UTC |
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Hi guys,
I just responded directly to this item on Uservoice, but I'll repost what I said here, in case it's helpful.
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Hi guys, I realize a ton of interest has been expressed here through all your votes, and there's been some questions about why we haven't seen much movement. This has everything to do with the fact that the high resolution and meltability that makes wax awesome also makes it fragile and we haven't yet found a solution that can both maintain the detail we know you want *while* surviving the shipping process. We're working on it, but this is an industry innovation which has been taking some time. [Ana]
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Link is here in case you'd like to respond.
http://feedback.shapeways.com/forums/111989-shapeways-feedba ck/suggestions/2427719-offer-wax-models
I hope that gives a little perspective on the fact that we want this, just like you do, we're working on it, but it's just been taking time.
Community Manager | Shapeways
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44674 is a reply to message #44667 ] Wed, 29 February 2012 22:40 UTC |
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I'm not interested in Wax Printing but want to help...
Just an idea on shipping a Printed Wax model.
Place it in a small container of some sort (plastic/foil lined cardboard box) and add support material similar to Stainless Steel whilst it's in its "Green State". If there was a good layer of this support material, a powder-like flour or icing sugar covering the whole Print, with a lid on would it protect it enough? Aswell as being in one of the usual Shapeways boxes.
I would say I'd try it, but I haven't got a Wax Printer here 
Tom.
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| Re: wax printers? [message #44681 is a reply to message #44674 ] Thu, 01 March 2012 00:27 UTC |
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Yes, maybe take some lessons from those grade school egg-drop contests (egg dropped from the 1st floor with some type of cushioning around to see what breaks and what doesn't)
Alternatively - I am quite certain that VERY VERY fragile stuff is being shipped each and every day all around the world. Maybe check with FedEx, UPS, DHL for best practices?
Shipping may have to be more expensive to account for the larger box (with all that packaging inside) - but could well be WELL worth it for those of us who need the quality.
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Search
Long time no see Peter, how are you? Maybe add that comment to the feedback so that it is there for devs to view. 
