This is an old forum thread that we keep up to date with our latest news on recommended casting houses. We’re excited to share a big update with a much longer, and formalized list of casting partners that includes a number of European casters and a number of new locations in the US. You can now reference www.formlabs.com/company/recommended-casting-houses for the full list and contact information.
Please continue to use this thread to share your recommendations for casting partners who work with Formlabs Castable Resin and might like to be included. If casting yourself; we’d love to know about your own casting services if available and any advice for people starting out with this kind of process.
Finding a Local Casting Partner to work with your Castable Resin Prints
Look for local partners that already offer investment casting from 3D Prints, rather than traditional casting foundries. Photopolymers are very different to burning out waxes, but between the different resins out there, the challenges of casting are similar. If someone can cast one photopolymer, they can probably cast ours. Once you’ve found someone who looks like they might already be taking advantage of 3D Printing in their production process, contact them to see if they’d be interested in trying to cast a piece you have pre-printed and prepped. You should send them the recommended burnout process which includes the firing schedule, investment recommendation (R&R Plasticast with BANDUST), and other tips and tricks that should help towards successful castings.
The caster may want to try their own burnout schedule. Many casters have their own processes, and they may come up with something that works better, but it can require some trial and error. In this case it can be helpful to send multiple prints so they can experiment.
The List
When evaluating casting partners we send a number of test pieces that help us evaluate different geometries and features - then we consider how easy they were to work with, considering turnaround time, quality, and cost. We evaluate, then edit or add to the list based on recommendations from the Formlabs community. If we like what we see - we ask the companies to confirm that they are interested in working with our material and are happy for us to recommend them; open to you sending your own pre-printed pieces for them to cast. If you have a negative experience with a partner on the list, let us know.
If preparing your own models for casting it’s important you fully wash, dry, post-cure, and finish your parts as needed, prior to casting.
We are always on the lookout for new casting partners to recommend to our customers and have been keeping this list up to date. Please share your tips, requests for other geographic regions, or alert us to any services you provide if you’d like to be included in this list.
Recommended Casting Partners in the US
AU Enterprises, MI
Avo’s Casting, CA
Best Cast, NJ
Carrera Casting, NY
Recommended Casting Partners in Europe
Belgium, Oroséy
France, Aurigane Protomaster
France, Solyfonte
Germany, Ulrich Wehpke Gmbh
Italy, Microvax
UK, Weston Beamor
UK, ABT Castings
Disclaimer: The outlined casting houses have tested Formlabs’ Castable V2 Resin with successful results. The test prints were printed at 50 microns, and post cured according to Formlabs’ specifications. The tests have been carried out according to Formlabs’ best knowledge and focused on several different designs (pave, split shank, filigree) in a variety of metals. Please note that when platinum and palladium casting is required the designer should first discuss casting their parts in platinum with the caster before sending the parts. Formlabs cannot guarantee the specific results as success may vary depending on design constraints and other factors.
If you’re interested in being featured in this list, please send me a direct message, reply to this thread, or contact sales@formlabs.com
