Shrinkage of Vintage Resin in 3D Printing: Importance and Measurement
Shrinkage refers to the reduction in model dimensions after 3D printing. The degree of shrinkage depends on factors such as the chemical composition of the casting resin, the curing intensity and duration, and the post-processing steps.
In a conducted test, the shrinkage of a solitaire ring printed with Vintage resin at room temperature was measured at 0.5 size over 60 minutes. This measurement was taken using a ring mandrel, where each size equals an internal diameter of 13.2 mm (0.52 inches).
In the process of gold and jewelry casting, two major factors influence the performance of photopolymer resins:
The percentage of ash remaining after the resin burns
The resin’s reaction with investment plaster
Resins that leave excessive ash during the casting cycle cause surface defects on the final piece. For this reason, selecting a resin with low ash residue is a key quality factor.
Vintage resin leaves only 3% ash by weight after combustion, making it an ideal choice for precise and flawless casting results.
Surface quality in 3D printing is affected by factors such as the type of resin, the accuracy and resolution of the 3D printer, the model’s placement on the build plate, and the number and type of supports used.
Models printed with Vintage resin achieve a surface quality rating of 9.5 out of 10, ensuring exceptional smoothness and clarity for fine jewelry details.
Recommended Reading: How to Prepare STL Files for 3D Printing in Jewelry Making
Flexibility in 3D printing materials is crucial, especially for stone setting in fine jewelry. The stone must fit perfectly into its seat or prongs, and the prongs must securely grip the stone. To achieve this, the resin should be flexible enough to return to its original shape after pressure or impact.
For resins suitable for stone setting, the maximum tensile stress should not exceed 3 N/mm² and elongation should be under 50%.
For Vintage resin, these values are 1.61 N/mm² and 11.85%, making it a precise and reliable choice for delicate jewelry work.
To this day, traditional gold casting still dominates the market due to its long history and established infrastructure. However, 3D printing is growing at a rate four times faster and is rapidly overtaking in adoption. The final choice depends on your brand’s strategy, budget, and design goals. Still, ignoring the rise of 3D printing technology is equal to falling behind the competition within the next five years.
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