If you’re interested in creating metal objects like jewelry, you could invest in a high-quality metal 3D printer, but that route is still incredibly expensive in today’s 3D printing world. Alternatively, you can create castable models with a resin 3D printer.
Several companies make castable resins, also called “wax resins”, that allow you to print parts ready to be used as molds for casting metal, including aluminum, tin, brass, and precious metals. The method is called investment casting, and it follows the same general pattern as lost-PLA casting but with wax instead of PLA.
Castable resins play a key role in the fields of dental and jewelry 3D printing. Of course, this also means that there are many different kinds of castable resins that can be used for many different applications. To ease your search for the perfect one, we’ve put together a list of the best castable resins currently on the market.
You’ll notice that most of these resins are quite expensive. If you’re just looking to print one or two parts, printing through Craftcloud might be a more economical option. And if you’d rather go straight to metal, that’s possible, too. Whatever your preference, you’ll find a wide range of material options and professional expertise with Craftcloud’s printing partners.
Choosing the Right Castable Resin
When buying resin, it’s important to consider many things, including the resin’s longevity, stiffness, and durability. When buying castable resins, though, it’s important to also consider certain properties that wouldn’t, or couldn’t, really be considered when buying any other type of resin. Here are some castable resin properties that are especially important to consider:
- Wax percentage: Castable resins have a certain amount of wax. If the wax content is higher, it will be easier to reshape the final product with wax carving tools. If the wax content is lower, the resin will be able to create finely detailed castings more successfully. Wherever possible, we’ve specified the wax percentage (not all manufacturers disclose it).
- Compatibility: Much like other types of resin, many castable resins can only be used by certain types of resin 3D printers. It’s important to make sure the castable resin aligns with the type of 3D printer you own.
- Post-processing: Because castable resins can have very different chemical makeups than standard resins, they often have unique post-processing procedures. These procedures vary in convenience and, therefore, are an important factor in choosing the right castable resin.
In addition to these considerations, only castable resins, not “wax-like” resins, will be considered in this guide. This is important to mention because some wax-like resins are designed to be able to make molds for wax objects but are not actually made to be castable. This means that they could not be directly used to cast metal parts. For this reason, some more economically priced wax-like resins aren’t on this list.
Siraya Tech Cast
One of the few castable resins available at the shipping giant Amazon, Siraya Tech’s castable resin is a widely used and widely tested resin that demonstrates it’s possible to buy a reliable castable resin for a relatively affordable price. In addition to the fact that it’s so convenient to purchase, this is a good option if you need a high volume of resin for your printing needs.
Siraya Tech specifies that their resin contains “some wax”. As regards post-processing, the company directs users to quickly wash the part in isopropyl alcohol or another resin washing fluid, then cure it for up to 30 minutes with a UV curing lamp.
The manufacturer also includes a handy print settings file compatible with a variety of slicers, namely Chitubox, Lychee, and Anycubic Photon Workshop.
- Compatibility: LCD, DLP
- Size: 1 kg, 0.5 kg
- Price: ~$75 per kg (~$45 per 0.5 kg)
Liqcreate
Liqcreate Castable Wax Resin is a highly trusted and often-used castable resin that’s notable because it’s made to mimic jeweler’s wax when fully cured. Additionally, it’s known for precision: MatterHackers notes that Liqcreate castable resin can print both positive and negative engravings onto jewelry, which eliminates the painstaking task of engraving by hand.
While the exact percentage of wax isn’t specified, Liqcreate’s website states that their castable resin contains a “significant amount” of wax. With regard to post-processing, this resin can be post-processed in the same manner as any standard photopolymer resin.
Liqcreate includes user guides for both jewelry and dental applications.
- Compatibility: LCD, DLP, SLA
- Sizes: 0.25 kg, 1 kg
- Price: ~$125 per kg (~$60 per 0.25 kg)
Formfutura
In addition to being as reputable and reliable as the other resins on this list, Formfutura’s castable resin has the added benefit of having low-odor post-processing. Formfutura doesn’t specify how much wax is in the resin, but according to a retailer, it’s able to print “incredibly fine details.”
This resin has a more in-depth post-processing procedure than other resins on this list. The company advises users to rinse parts for 5 minutes in isopropyl alcohol, let them dry for 30 minutes, then cure them for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Compatibility: LCD, DLP, SLA
- Size: 0.5 L
- Price: ~$160 per L (~$80 per 0.5 L)
Phrozen Castable Resin W20
Phrozen, a well-known manufacturer of both resins and 3D printers, as well as complementary accessories, has built a reputation for creating innovative 3D printing solutions with advanced technology, user-friendly interfaces, and excellent customer support.
When it comes to its castable resin, with its smooth surface finish, excellent burnout properties, and high resolution, the Castable Resin W20 puts up a decent performance for a mid-range product.
It has a 20% wax content and captures fine details remarkably well, making it perfect for intricate jewelry pieces and detailed dental models. It’s also claimed to burn cleanly, without leaving behind an ashy finish, ensuring prints come out perfectly. If 20% wax isn’t enough, Phrozen also offers a 40% option.
Using a Phrozen printer allows for an ease of workflow, because the manufacturer includes printer settings that make the whole experience a breeze. Although the resin produces top-quality parts, you still need some post-curing, with the option to submerge the print in 95% alcohol (for less than 30 seconds), and UV-curing the prints for at least 30 minutes. The user guide provided by Phrozen is useful, to say the least.
- Compatibility: LCD, DLP
- Size: 0.5 kg
- Price: ~$240 per kg (~$120 per 0.5 kg)
Formlabs
Formlabs is well-known for making resins that are specifically compatible with their line of SLA 3D printers. Formlabs Castable Wax Resin is a great option for Form 2, Form 3, and Form 4 owners, especially since Formlabs has documentation about how to successfully print with their castable resin.
Formlabs Castable Wax Resin has a wax content of 20%, which means that it’s suitable for thin pieces and finer filigree jewelry pieces. Additionally, this resin doesn’t need post-print UV curing. Simply rinse the part clean of resin residue with isopropyl alcohol, and the part will be ready for casting.
The company also sells a differently formulated castable resin with a higher wax content for heavier wax prints.
- Compatibility: Formlabs Form 2, Form 3, and Form 4
- Size: 1 L
- Price: ~$300 per L
The BlueCast X10
BlueCast has been a contender in the castable resin market since 2008 – the Italian company is known for producing high-performance resins specifically for the jewelry industry.
The BlueCast X10 builds on the company’s X5 offering to provide an 80% wax-like photopolymer formulation. The resin allows for high-level intricacy and ensures clean burnout with zero ash content. On top of that, the manufacturer states that it’s free from harmful odors and monomers while ensuring a quick burnout cycle that is 70% more energy efficient than traditional methods.
According to BlueCast, there’s no need for UV curing if you’re casting in-house. If you’re using a casting service, they suggest rescaling the model up to +2% before printing, as well as carrying out standard cleaning (with 91% or 99% IPA or ethyl alcohol) and then drying the model with compressed air.
For those with a 4K or 8K printer, the manufacturers recommend using one of BlueCast X10’s additives to increase resin resolution. As for ease of use, the company includes preset profiles for Chitubox.
- Compatibility: LCD, DLP, SLA
- Size: 0.5 kg
- Price: ~$320 per kg (~$160 per 0.5 kg)
License: The text of "The Best Castable Resins for Jewelry: Our 6 Picks" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.