Resin
Castable Resin
Jewelry and dental master models for investment (lost-wax) casting.
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Material passport
Density1.1 g/cm³
Encyclopedia
Castable resin is made for investment (lost-wax) casting. You print a master model — a ring, pendant, dental framework — invest it in plaster, then burn it out in a kiln. The key requirement is that the resin burns out ash-free, so the metal casting comes out clean and accurate. It often contains wax for better burnout.
What it is good for
- Jewelry master models: rings, pendants, earrings
- Dental frameworks and casting models
- Small precise metal parts via casting
- Small-scale art casting
Where NOT to use it
- Functional plastic parts — castable resin is brittle and soft
- Strong prototypes — wrong job
- When you have no casting process (kiln, investment) — the material is pointless without casting
- Large models — designed for the jewelry-scale precision of small forms
How to print
- Normal layer exposure: dialed in with a test, accuracy critical for jewelry
- Bottom layer exposure: 20–40 s
- Layer height: 0.02–0.035 mm — jewelry needs very thin layers
- Cure wavelength: 405 nm
- Careful supports and orientation: the master must have no marks or defects
Liquid resin is toxic and a skin irritant — work in nitrile gloves in a ventilated room and avoid skin and eye contact. Wash prints in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and always do a final UV cure: only then does the resin become safe to handle.
Washing, curing and storage
- Washing: gentle, in isopropyl alcohol; waxy resins are soft — do not damage the model
- UV curing: moderate, so as not to impair burnout
- Casting: burn out on the maker's temperature schedule — rapid heating causes mold cracks and ash
- Storage: dark, tightly sealed bottle; waxy formulations are temperature-sensitive
The key strength of castable resin is clean, ash-free burnout. Deviating from the burnout schedule causes residue, mold cracks, and casting defects. Follow the resin maker's schedule strictly.
Pros and cons
- Burns out clean, ash-free — accurate casting
- Highest detail for jewelry
- Often contains wax for reliable burnout
- Saves time vs hand-carving wax
- Highly specialized — casting only
- Brittle and soft as a standalone material
- Needs casting equipment and a precise burnout schedule
- Same liquid-resin toxicity
FAQ
It is made for lost-wax casting: you print a master (ring, framework), invest it, and burn it out in a kiln. Castable resin burns away ash-free, leaving a clean cavity for metal. Standard resin will not do this — it leaves residue and ruins the casting.