Real wax filament interested? Video added!

[teoman]

What do you think of microwave melting aluminium?

[DavidF]

What do you think of microwave melting aluminium?

Not much really. Its a neat idea but not really practical. You can build a small electric furnace pretty easily if your worried about the "dangerous propane" that would be good for small melts. Them again you can melt aluminum over a good wood fire as well. My very first dive into metal casting was nothing more than a wood fire to melt the aluminum and ground up kitty litter with sand for the molding.
I quickly fell in love with metalcasting and wanted to be able to cast brass and bronze so I built a propane furnace which iis my go to furnace for casting parts under 10 lbs bronze and have a much larger furnace that can melt 60 lbs bronze that runs on diesel fuel. Both furnaces can also melt grey iron. Im hoping this snow melts away soon so I can get back to casting, provided we don have any more "process upsets" at the plant that keeps me there for 3 days straight.

[teoman]

What about solar smelting?

[DavidF]

What about solar smelting?

would take one hell of a collector

[Mac The Knife]

I'm way interested in this! I too print a ton of lost pla molds. I have been experimenting with wax extruder ideas, but what I really wanted was a filament. I would love to get on board with testing this as well. Is this wax filament coming from the people who make the laywood?

No, not them... Ill be letting the cat out of the bag on friday

So, what Friday?

[DavidF]

Yea I know, I dropped the ball That job thing got in the way.... Printer is set up for the wax filament, file sliced and loaded, just need to git er done.....
soon guys, soon... its worth the wait. Likely to be a multi part series. too much to put into one video.

[DavidF]

video uploading now....taking forever though Havent been having the best of luck with windows 8.
The video seems to be stuck at 6% complete and the time to finish just keeps ticking up?? I hate computers!

[DavidF]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/xN_tUixHX9k?list=UUSrlS ... ahmmmYbb2A[/youtube]
http://youtu.be/xN_tUixHX9k?list=UUSrlS ... ahmmmYbb2A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN_tUix ... ahmmmYbb2A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN_tUix ... ahmmmYbb2A[/youtube]

GRRR how do you imbed videos???

[KAS]

Take the "s" out, also get the link from the direct video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN_tUixHX9k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN_tUixHX9k[/youtube]

[Jimustanguitar]

I fight with that too. You have to use the URL that you get from right clicking on the video itself (not what's in the address bar or what Google gives you when you click on "share video"), and then take out the s in HTTPS like KAS said.

[geneb]

WANT. WANT NOW!

Come on man, details! What temp does it print at, etc?



g.

[DavidF]

WANT. WANT NOW!

Come on man, details! What temp does it print at, etc?



g.

Im finding it prints well at 130C but may bump the temp just a bit to 135C as im seeing a bit of layer seperation on larger prints. Im still figuring out a few things with how to print with it, so ive been doing 200 micron layers and 20mm/sec print speeds. The filament diameter is a little undersized so rather than increase the extrusion multiplier i just told cura that its diameter is 1.4mm which is what I do for ninja flex, although I can only print ninjaflex at 10mm/sec on a god day.

[DavidF]

Oh, if you look at the print in the video im printing on a piece of paper glued to the bed, i was having trouble printing on the hairspray (which is what the mfg uses)
Wonder how long it would take MHackney to automate the printing process LOL

[redoverred]

Did they say when they were going to release the product? I am super excited about this, as I'm interested in making metal parts that I can machine later and this is a very good way to make molds. I could use PLA, but I've never gotten PLA to work well on my machine.

[DavidF]

Did they say when they were going to release the product? I am super excited about this, as I'm interested in making metal parts that I can machine later and this is a very good way to make molds. I could use PLA, but I've never gotten PLA to work well on my machine.

If there is enough response and demand for the product they will be releasing it. Right now it is in "Trial and testing" so it will be a little bit before they ramp up into production (provided there is enough responce generated...)

[Jimustanguitar]

If there is enough response and demand for the product they will be releasing it.

I don't think that there's any question about the demand for this product. It bridges the gap between plastic and metal that everyone in the 3D printing space wants right now. The product may take off slowly depending on how well they can market it, but this is going to be huge.

[DavidF]

Im getting better at printing with it, this print was a little too hot but still came out ok. 200 micron layers at 140C I think 135c might be tha magic number...
[img]http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g446/davidflowers1/Mobile%20Uploads/20150314_202336.jpg[/img]

[KAS]

Layer fan a must with this?

[DavidF]

Layer fan a must with this?

Oddly, i haven't been using one. Seems better without it.

[626Pilot]

Is there any progress on this? I'd like to be able to print my own candles. That would be amazing.

Also, is this stuff actually rated for candles? I've seen some "wax-like" filaments that are intended for casting, but I don't care about that. I just want to make candles & make sure they haven't put some noxious substance that will cause air quality problems when burned. Wax for candles is usually blended very carefully to make sure that it burns on the wick properly, not too fast and not too slow.

[KAS]

Is there any progress on this? I'd like to be able to print my own candles. That would be amazing.

Also, is this stuff actually rated for candles? I've seen some "wax-like" filaments that are intended for casting, but I don't care about that. I just want to make candles & make sure they haven't put some noxious substance that will cause air quality problems when burned. Wax for candles is usually blended very carefully to make sure that it burns on the wick properly, not too fast and not too slow.

I have a spool of it, just haven't printed with it yet. I'll get a video tonight burning some wax, although not sure if that will tell you anything. Maybe I can melt some down and make a tealight sized candle to see how it burns.

http://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DavidF]

Is there any progress on this? I'd like to be able to print my own candles. That would be amazing.

Also, is this stuff actually rated for candles? I've seen some "wax-like" filaments that are intended for casting, but I don't care about that. I just want to make candles & make sure they haven't put some noxious substance that will cause air quality problems when burned. Wax for candles is usually blended very carefully to make sure that it burns on the wick properly, not too fast and not too slow.

The filament is available at machineablewax.com. Im not sure about candle rated, but it does burn clean and i wouldnt think you would have any problems doing it.
Im waiting on a spool of laymold now to test out.

[626Pilot]

I sent a message through their contact form. We'll see what they say. I hope it's okay. Can you imagine the business possibilities this would open up? Most people don't see a need to buy knick-knacks made out of plastic in primary colors, but there are hordes of buyers out there that would love a custom candle.

[BenTheRighteous]

I sent a message through their contact form. We'll see what they say.

Any response yet?

[626Pilot]

I sent a message through their contact form. We'll see what they say.

Any response yet?

Nope! I guess they're not monitoring their feedback form.