How to cut this piece?

[Bob WrightNC]

Yes, that's the stuff. That's where those tiny endmills come in. I used a CNC mill with a Foredom 18,000rpm motor to do it. Places like bits and bits www.bitsbits.com have special endmills just for wax. They are like a needle and you can get some awesome detail

Just curious Bruce if there would be a tool to engrave with that would give you the same type of detail since I know one company does a demo engraving wax.

[Bruce Boone]

It can be a ball endmill or a tapered pointy mill. As long as the stepover is very small, it doesn't matter much what the cutter profile is.

[matthew knott]

laser cutting would be quick and digital and waste material could be melted down and used again,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXcpj...layer_embedded

[Rodne Gold]

Was the laser-cut wax just a suggestion to try? Or has anyone here actually had success in laser cutting wax? If so what kind of wax did you use?

I have not had any success with wax and would not be able to generate the kind of detail shown. Wax tends to melt far from the kerf as it has a very low melting temperature; then wants to flow back on the kerf. I was unable to get any real definition with the wax and settings I was using.

It's impossible to laser wax in any meaningful way , I have tried with dental , jewellers , various candlewaxes , freezing it etc.. no go. Easy to use on a computerised engraver tho...