If you’re interested in creating metal objects, 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 by All3DP 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.
- 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 are not on this list.
Siraya Tech Cast
One of the few castable resins available on 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.
- Compatibility: LCD/MSLA, DLP
- Size: 1 kg
- Price: ~$75 per 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.
- Compatibility: LCD/MSLA, SLA
- Sizes: 0.25 kg, 1 kg
- Price: ~$40 per 0.25 kg, ~$90 per 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 five minutes in isopropyl alcohol, let them dry for 30 minutes, then cure them for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Compatibility: LCD/MSLA, SLA, DLP
- Size: 0.5 L
- Price: ~$70 per 0.5 L (~$140 per L)
BlueCast X5
BlueCast X5 is unique because it can be used for both fine and heavy models because, according to the company, it uses a patent-pending synthesized oligomer instead of wax. Like all resins on this list, BlueCast X5 promises to deliver an ash-free burnout with every print, and with a competitive shelf life of two years, it lasts a particularly long time.
No post-print UV curing is required for parts printed – they only need to be quickly rinsed in isopropyl alcohol before being used.
- Compatibility: LCD/MSLA, SLA, DLP
- Size: 0.5 kg
- Price: ~$145 per 0.5 kg (~$290 per kg)
Formlabs
Formlabs is well-known for making resins that are specifically compatible with Formlabs’ line of SLA 3D printers. Formlabs Castable Wax Resin is a great option for Form 2 and Form 3 owners, especially since Formlabs has documentation about how to successfully print with their castable resin. The company also sells a differently formulated castable resin with a higher wax content for heavier wax prints.
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.
- Compatibility: Formlabs Form 2 and Form 3
- Size: 1 L
- Price: ~$300 per L
Photocentric
At a fairly reasonable price for castable resin, Photocentric’s UV Castable Resin is meant for use with LCD and DLP resin 3D printers. The company doesn’t mention the resin’s wax content at all, and based on the technical data sheet, this may be another castable resin based on a proprietary oligomer. Nevertheless, Photocentric boasts that it can be used to print relatively fine designs with high accuracy and detail.
With regard to post-processing, it has a rather long curing time but otherwise a rather standard post-processing procedure. Photocentric advises users to wash the parts, dry them, then “place the parts into an oven at 100°C for 4 hours.”
It’s also worth noting that a previous iteration of this resin is currently on sale at MatterHackers. There’s a castable resin version for SLA-based resin 3D printers and another for DLP-based 3D printers. Better check those out while supplies last!
- Compatibility: LCD/MSLA, DLP
- Size: 0.5 kg
- Price: ~$70 per 0.5 kg (~$140 per kg)
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