Bucktown Polymers water soluble Rinse Out 3D prinintg Resin (ROR) could replace lost wax casting Jun 1, 2015 | By SimonWhile we™ve been seeing an ever-increasing range of 3D printers including both those that incorporate additional manufacturing processes as well as those that aim to be more minimal and low-cost , we™ve also been seeing an increase in interesting and useful 3D printing materials as well.  More recently, researchers at Bucktown Polymers have developed a new type of 3D printing material that cures rapidly when exposed to light yet remains water soluble after curing: Rinse Out Resin (ROR).  The company  - which is based in Chicago, Illinois and produces a range of products including adhesives, coatings, inks, resins, composites, photopolymers and other materials for manufacturing - found that the materials have unique uses in additive manufacturing and casting processes since they are able to change from a liquid into a solid using only a light source as a temporary support for other materials or as a pattern during the casting process.  Once a process has been completed, the support material is able to be quickly dissolved using only a warm water rinse.  Among other benefits of the ROR (Rinse Out Resin) include its ability to drastically reduce the amount time required to produce as an investment casting material.  Existing polymer or wax-based offerings have up to a 12-hour long burnout process whereas the ROR is capable of being rinsed with water in a matter of minutes.  Additionally, the material allows for higher pattern resolution, intricacy and better finishes than other similar materials.  Since the water rinse is ultimately replacing the burnout process, it is also eliminating the problem of unintended patterns that can be created from other materials due to polymer expansions or leftover ash and residue.   Features of Rinse Out Resin (ROR):Of course, regardless of the benefits of the material, determining its usability comes down to its ability to be used without the need for expensive equipment or a complicated user experience that could deter would-be users.  With this in mind, the water soluble materials can be formulated for compatibility with many existing desktop 3D printers and more complicated industrial additive manufacturing machines including SLA, DLP, Inkjet and powder-based processes.  Perhaps its most significant use though will be in replacing lost wax processes which are used for creating various metal objects.   Those interested in finding out more about Rinse Out Resin can head over to Bucktown Polymers.    Posted in 3D Printing Materials  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Maybe you also like: (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();   lang: en_US