Re: Machineable wax problem

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., William Reidsema <wreidsema@y...> wrote:

> Hello All,
> I read this group every day and it is amazing how
> erudite some of the contributors are! I have a simple
> problem that, perhaps, cannot be solved. On the other
> hand, maybe someone has a solution.
> I do a lot of jewelry prototyping in machineable
> wax
> which is then burned out of a mold and cast in
> precious
> metal. The problem is this: I spend as much time
> digging wax residue (chips) out of the final wax
> carving as I do milling the piece. If I cut plastic,
> then the milled carvings have almost no residue to dig
> out. Unfortunately, the plastic doesn't burn out as
> well as wax.
> Anybody on the group know of a material that will
> cut cleanly and burn out as well? Any other
> suggestions
> will be appreciated. I've even tried building a dam
> around the wax and cutting in water. Nothing seems to
> work!
> Bill Reidsema

Can you determine the exact cause of the adhering chips? Are they
pieces that remain attached to the base material after cutting, like
fuzz on certain types of wood, or are they loose particles that
become reattached at new locations?
Could you attach a vacuum cleaner pickup near the cutter to remove
the chips as they are formed?

Does the ambient temperature affect the cutting? Nice thing about a
Sherline mill is that it's small enough to put in a fridge! Or maybe
under an "oxygen tent" arrangement with a small window box air
conditioner. Make sure you keep the chips out of the A/C.

Some combination of techniques may work best. The submerged cutter
sounds promising. Maybe an additive in the water would help.
Perhaps a soap or detergent?

Larry