Lost-wax casting (cire perdue) is an ancient metallurgical technique modernized through precision 3D CAD modeling and vacuum centrifugal metal induction casting.
1. The 6 Stages of Modern Custom Jewelry Casting
- 1. CAD Parametric Modeling: Designing sub-millimeter tolerances for prong seats and gemstone under-bezels in specialized 3D jewelry software.
- 2. High-Resolution 3D Printing: Photopolymer wax-resin printers produce physical master models with 25-micron layer precision.
- 3. Tree Spruing & Gypsum Investment: Wax models are soldered onto a central sprue tree and encased in high-temperature silica plaster.
- 4. Kiln Burnout (1,350°F): 12-hour progressive heating completely evaporates the wax model, leaving an empty negative mold cavity.
- 5. Molten Metal Vacuum Injection: Molten 925 sterling silver or 14K gold is drawn into the red-hot plaster flask under vacuum suction.
- 6. Quenching, Cleansing & Master Finishing: Submerging the flask in water dissolves the plaster, revealing the raw cast metal tree for hand filing and polishing.