What is Cast Metals (Wax Casting) 3D Printing?

Cast Metals, also known as Lost Wax Casting, is a centuries-old metal casting technique used to create intricate jewelry, sculptures, and functional metal objects. By using 3D printing to create precise wax patterns, designers can achieve exceptional detail, complex shapes, and professional finishes that would be difficult or impossible with traditional metalworking techniques. This method is perfect for crafting custom jewelry, decorative home goods, collectible miniatures, and one-of-a-kind accessories. With a variety of metal options and post-processing techniques like polishing and plating, wax casting combines tradition with modern innovation to bring your most intricate designs to life.

Examples of printed models using MJF technology

What can you print with Wax Casting?

Cast Metals are ideal for projects that require fine details, smooth finishes, and unique metal properties. Some of the most common applications include:

Custom Jewelry & Rings

Create intricate, high-quality jewelry in gold, silver, platinum, and bronze.

Art & Sculptures

Produce detailed, ornamental, or miniature sculptures with a professional finish.

Home Decor & Accessories

Design custom brass, bronze, or copper decor pieces for a unique touch.

Interlocking & Moving Parts

Craft mechanical or fashion accessories with built-in moving components.

Personalized Gifts & Collectibles

Bring customized metal products to life, from keychains to designer keepsakes.

If your design requires intricate patterns, fine engravings, or custom metal finishes, Wax Casting is the perfect technique.

Materials

Brass

Versatile & Durable

A copper alloy (80% copper, 15% zinc, 5% tin) that’s great for:

  • Jewelry, miniatures, and home decor
  • Rich, golden hue with excellent engraving and etching capabilities
  • May develop a natural patina over time but can be polished to restore shine

Plating options: Gold or Rhodium for additional color and tarnish resistance

Bronze

Classic & Elegant

A copper-tin alloy (90% copper, 10% tin) with a deep, reddish hue, often used for:

  • Vintage-style jewelry and artistic sculptures
  • Unique marbled effect with silver highlights
  • Natural oxidation over time, enhancing its antique appearance

Can be polished to maintain its original shine

Copper

Bold & Timeless

100% pure copper, offering a vibrant red-orange color that naturally patinas into greenish or brown hues. Ideal for:

  • Jewelry, accessories, and decorative objects
  • Antique or industrial-style designs
  • Naturally corrosion-resistant due to oxidation

Patina can be maintained or polished away depending on the desired look.

Silver

Premium & Highly Polishable

A sterling silver alloy (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) offering a luxurious finish and high durability. Best for:

  • Fine jewelry, rings, pendants, and earrings
  • Intricate, highly detailed engravings
  • A sleek, timeless aesthetic that can be polished to a mirror finish

Silver can develop a natural tarnish over time but is easily restored with polishing. Optional finishes include raw, polished, and antique treatments for unique aesthetics.

Gold

Luxurious & Precious

One of the highest quality materials available, perfect for:

  • Everyday fine jewelry, heirlooms, and engagement rings
  • Available in Yellow, White, and Rose Gold
  • 9K, 10K, 14K, and 18K options for different durability and shine

Intricate detailing and premium finish make Gold a top choice for high-end products.

Platinum

Premium & Durable

A high-end metal (95% Platinum, 5% Ruthenium) known for:

  • High-quality jewelry with a sophisticated look
  • Durability and resistance to tarnishing
  • Superior engraving and intricate detailing capabilities

Polishing is limited on internal surfaces, ensuring a naturally refined appearance.

Design guidelines

Brass

3D models may shrink about 0.25 mm plus 2.5% after casting and finishing as part of the 3D Brass printing process.

For rings, the inner diameter is accurate within +/- 0.1 to 0.15mm. On average, the model shrinks about 2.5% after casting and finishing. We do our best to polish the internal diameter to match your model file during the 3D Brass printing process.

Bronze

Your Bronze 3D printing model may shrink about 0.25 mm plus 2.5% after casting and finishing.

For rings, the inner diameter is accurate within +/- 0.1 to 0.15mm. On average, the Bronze 3D printing model shrinks about 2.5% after casting and finishing. We do our best to polish the internal diameter to match your bronze 3D printing model file.

Copper

±0.125 mm, Models can shrink about 2.5% after casting and finishing.

For rings, we do our best to polish the internal diameter to match the dimensions of your model file.

Silver

Natural:

When you 3D print Silver, the model may shrink about 0.15 mm plus 1.5% after casting and finishing. For rings the inner diameter will be 0.125 - 0.15 mm smaller than your design. On average, when you 3D print Silver, the model shrinks about 1.5% after casting and finishing. Scaling up your model by 1% will make your design closer to your desired size.

Polished, Fine Detail Polished and Antique:

Your model may shrink about 0.25 mm plus 2.5% after casting and finishing. For rings the inner diameter is accurate within +/- 0.1 to 0.15mm. On average, the model shrinks about 2.5% after casting and finishing. We do our best to polish the internal diameter to match your model file.

Gold

Your Gold 3D printing model may shrink about 0.25 mm plus 2.5% after casting and finishing.

For rings the inner diameter is accurate within +/- 0.1 to 0.15 mm. On average, the Gold 3D printing model shrinks about 2.5% after casting and finishing. We do our best to polish the internal diameter to match your model file.

Platinum

Your model may shrink about 0.25 mm plus 2.5% after casting and finishing.

For rings the inner diameter is accurate within +/- 0.1 to 0.15mm. On average, the model shrinks about 2.5% after casting and finishing. We do our best to polish the internal diameter to match your model file.

Bounding box
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The bounding box is a 3D imaginary outline of a box that encloses the smallest area occupied by your model. Your model must be within the minimum and maximum bounding box sizes. If the size of the model is close to the maximum bounding box, then the printing orientation will be restricted.

Max. bounding box

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Min. bounding box

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Walls
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A supported wall is connected at least on two sides of the wall, while an unsupported wall is connected only on one side of the wall. Walls that do not meet the minimum requirements may not survive printing and cleaning processes. Additionally, models may still be rejected based on the wall geometry of the model. Please consider the size of your model and reinforce the walls or add support structures as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models.

Supported walls

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Unsupported walls

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Wires
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A wire is a circular, rectangular or even triangular feature that is thinner in its unconnected directions than its length. A supported wire is connected at least on two sides of the model, while an unsupported wire is connected on one side of the model. Wires that do not meet the minimum requirements may not survive printing and cleaning processes. Additionally, models may still be rejected based on the wire geometry of the model. Please consider the size of your model and reinforce the wires or add support structures as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models.

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Supported wires

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Unsupported wires

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Details
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For text, the ratio between width and depth, should be 1:1 and sans-serif fonts are preferred for line weight consistency.

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Embossed Details

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Engraved Details

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Clearance
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Clearance is the space between two individual parts in a model. If the space among the individual parts do not meet the minimum clearance, then parts can fuse together or can be difficult to clean. This is important for movable pieces like hinges, gears, etc.

Minimum

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Sprues
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Sprues are wires that keep two or more parts together. Parts should be connected with a minimum of two sprues each. Please consider the size of your sprues and increase them as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models. If the sprues are within the guidelines and are broken, but there is no damage to your model, we will still ship them as is.

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Interlocking & Enclosed parts
Interlocking

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Enclosed

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Escape holes
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Escape holes are necessary to empty the support material of a hollow model. Two escape holes at the opposite ends of the model is optimal for the support removal process. Please consider the size of your model and make the escape holes bigger or add more escape holes as needed as minimum guidelines will not always be adequate for large models.

A single escape hole at the end of a cavity will not allow material in the corners near the escape hole to fully escape. So we recommend multiple escape holes at both ends of the cavity.

Single Escape hole diameter

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Multiple Escape hole diameter

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Multiple parts

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Accuracy

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Accuracy

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