Why Does the WJ51C Produce Smoother Wax Patterns Than WaxJet 510?
When first comparing the WJ51C with larger industrial wax printers, an obvious question arises:
If the WJ51C is a smaller, desktop-sized wax 3D printer, why can it produce smoother wax patterns than some larger and more expensive industrial machines?
This difference is especially noticeable when comparing the WJ51C with the previous-generation WaxJet 510. On large curved surfaces, smooth contours, and highly detailed textures, the WJ51C often produces noticeably finer results. In many test samples, the “wave marks” and visible layer lines commonly seen in traditional wax printing are greatly reduced. Large curved areas appear more even, and the printed surface is closer to the final casting result before polishing.
The reason is that, while maintaining the same industrial-grade hardware foundation, the WJ51C has been redesigned and optimized in three areas: machine structure, software algorithms, and firmware control.
1. The Machine Is Smaller, but the Hardware Performance Has Not Been Reduced
The hardware structure of the WJ51C has been redesigned to improve overall mechanical stability. Because the machine is more compact, vibration during printing is lower and movement errors are easier to control. This helps reduce the fine surface marks that can appear during printing.
The more stable structure also allows the printhead to maintain greater consistency during each droplet deposition. As a result, the wax droplets are distributed more evenly and the final surface becomes smoother and more refined.
The WJ51C still maintains the same industrial-level resolution as larger industrial wax printers:
- X-axis resolution: 2900 DPI
- Y-axis resolution: 2900 DPI
- Z-axis resolution: 1700 DPI
- Minimum layer thickness: 15 μm
In other words, the WJ51C remains at the same theoretical precision level as large industrial wax printers.
Comparison of surface texture between traditional industrial wax printing and WJ51C.
2. The Resolution Is the Same, So Why Is the Surface Different?
Many users notice that both the WJ51C and the WaxJet 510 have the same resolution specification of 2900 × 2900 × 1700 DPI, but the final print quality is not exactly the same.
This is because resolution is only one factor. It defines the upper limit of printing precision, but it does not determine the final surface quality.
The final result also depends on how the printhead moves, how the software processes the edges and surfaces of the model, and how the print path is generated. If these parts are not optimized, visible layer lines, wave marks, and rough areas can still appear, even with a high resolution.
The improvement of the WJ51C comes from these details.
Although both printers use the same resolution, the WJ51C delivers a smoother final surface.
3. The Print Path Algorithm Has Been Re-Optimized
In wax 3D printing, the software-generated print path directly affects the final surface quality of the model.
The WJ51C uses a new path optimization algorithm. In areas with complex curves and fine textures, the transition between print paths is smoother and more natural.
This is especially noticeable when printing:
- Large curved surfaces
- Spheres and rounded shapes
- Ring exteriors
- Human faces and sculpture details
- Jewelry surfaces with complex curves
Compared with previous-generation systems, the WJ51C produces better results on these shapes and reduces the visible surface texture often seen on traditional wax prints.
Optimized print paths improve the appearance of curved surfaces and fine details.
4. Firmware Upgrades
In addition to hardware and software improvements, the WJ51C also includes firmware upgrades.
The updated firmware allows the printer to control the printing process more precisely. Even during long print jobs or when printing highly detailed models, the machine is able to maintain stable output.
As a result, many printed samples already have a surface quality close to the final casting result before any post-processing.
This is especially important for jewelry, sculptures, and decorative parts, because it means:
- Less post-processing
- Lower polishing cost
- Better detail reproduction
- A more refined final appearance
