Machineable wax problem

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 03:25:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: William Reidsema <wreidsema@...>
Subject: Machineable wax problem

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

[I've been having good luck with this blue machinable wax I get in bulk
(about $4.20/lb if you buy 50 lbs) from Freeman Supply
<www.freemansupply.com>. It cuts very cleanly, and all the swarf can be
melted down and cast into new blocks. It shrinks quite a bit as it cools,
so rigid metal molds work fine- it pops right out of cake pans, steel pipe,
whatever. They sell it in various block and cylinder sizes, the bulk comes
as random-sized blocks, mostly about the size of a common brick.

Part of your problem might be your cutter. For wax, you want an endmill
with 2 flutes and a high helix, to get chips out of the way quickly. What
size cutters are you using? You need to use a faster spindle-speed the
smaller they are. And what style end do they have? A sharp engraving point
will make microgrooved texture that retains wax; a ball-end cutter makes a
much smoother surface. If you must use an engraving cutter, try radiusing
the point a little on a stone. ]

www.computersculpture.com




Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com