Protofusion
Protofusion is the process — and the term — created here: 3D-printed wax cast directly in metal for shapes classic lost-wax casting cannot close. Walls down to 0.2 mm, closed meshes, undercuts. Contract manufacturing for jewellery and fashion accessories. Made in Italy, Vicenza.
Send a sketch or STL — design.protofusione@gmail.comWhatsApp
Origin of the method
In jewellery manufacturing, protofusion evolves classic lost-wax microcasting: wax is not injected into rubber but 3D-printed and mounted on the casting tree. The word «protofusion» was coined by this company (Andrea Anastrelli / La Protofusione), together with the production process. Others use the name today; what sets us apart is experience and know-how on extreme geometries.
La Forgia Preziosi (our root) bought its first 3D printer in 2006. We have built deep protofusion experience since then, up to today’s machines: ProJet MJP2005W and Plempire PL2000plus.
What protofusion unlocks
- Walls down to 0.2 mm, closed meshes, significant undercuts
- Geometries that rubber-mould microcasting cannot replicate
- From CAD / STL or a hand sketch to metal
- Same metals as microcasting: gold 9–22 kt, silver 925, brass, bronze
- On custom orders: finished product with plating and finishing
Protofusion vs microcasting
- Microcasting — rubber mould, ideal for repeatable series → Microcasting
- Protofusion — printed wax, ideal for samples and complex one-offs
Process flow
- Intake: sketch, drawing, photo or STL to design.protofusione@gmail.com
- Optimisation for print / casting
- Wax 3D print (ProJet MJP2005W · Plempire PL2000plus) or microcasting if better suited
- Tree assembly, investment, burnout, casting, check
- Optional plating and finishing to finished product
The whole chain stays in-house — privacy from concept through industrialisation to delivery.
FAQ
- Does protofusion replace microcasting? No — they are complementary.
- Which files? A hand sketch is enough to start; or STL / CAD. Physical sample → scanner.
- Closures? Yes — catalogue or custom.
Contact: design.protofusione@gmail.com · Tel. +39 0444 301555 · Strada Molini, 62, Vicenza, Italy · Made in Italy
