What is PolyCast ? used for?
PolyCast ? has been specially developed for investment casting (also known as lost wax casting) of metal.
What advantages does PolyCast ? offer for investment casting?
For traditional investment casting, you must first make a metal tool to create wax patterns. The processing usually takes several weeks, the costs are very high. Using 3D printing with PolyCast ? eliminates the need for these tools.
Another advantage of PolyCast ? is that you can use 3D printing to create complex geometries that are simply impossible with tools.
In summary, PolyCast is ideal for:
- Rapid production of small volume metal parts
- Metal parts with complex geometries
How is PolyCast ? different from other 3D printed filaments?
PolyCast ? is the first 3D print filament specifically designed for metal investment casting. To enable this application, we have designed the material to have two main functions:
Superior surface quality
PolyCast ? can be polished in Polysher ? (using Polymaker's patented Micro-Droplet Polishing ? technology), eliminating layers and creating a very smooth part surface. This is crucial for the quality of the metal parts.
Clean burnout
Most polymers leave residues when they decompose - this is a problem during investment casting and can lead to defects in the metal parts. Polymaker has designed the material to completely decompose and provide a clean mold for casting.
Is PolyCast ? easy to use?
Using PolyCast ? is easy. It prints under typical PLA conditions and is compatible with almost any filament-based 3D printer. Polymaker has developed the material to provide excellent printability, dimensional stability and easy removal of the support material.
The printed parts can then be polished in Polysher ? to significantly improve surface quality. After polishing, the part is ready for use in precision casting.