Manufacturing bronze logo’s for an exclusive designer brand, behind the scenes.
What began as a family business when Raymond Stevens started his apprenticeship as a goldsmith at the age of sixteen, has now flourished into a proud legacy. Many years later, his son, Sébastiaan Stevens, has continued this beautiful craft by combining wax resin 3D-printing with (bronze) casting. Visit their website www.stevenssieraden.nl for the latest creations!
Goldsmithing is a profession steeped in ancient techniques, yet it continues to evolve in the digital era. Goldsmith Sébastian Stevens often combines craftmanship and 3D-printing technology to create the most beautiful pieces of jewelry and art. In this article we will take a look behind the scenes at Stevens Sieraden and learn how they created a bronze logo for exclusive handmade shoulder raffia crochet bags for Atelier Lucy Sarkisian.
Image from Atelier Lucy Sarkisian: The BABY MATHILDA blue, small shoulder raffia crochet bag.
Image from Stevens Sieraden: design of the 3D logo for Atelier Lucy Sarkisian.
It all starts with a design. The logo of Dutch-Armenian designer Lucy Sarkisian was designed in a 3D design program. This can be done in Blender or similar design software. Since the logo was going to be placed on a bag, it could be designed flat on the back side. Components with flat areas can be positioned directly on the printer’s build plate, eliminating the need for additional support structures. Not only does this reduce the complexity of the print, but it also significantly shortens production time. In this case, the logo’s minimal height—just a few millimeters—allowed it to be 3D-printed in under 30 minutes.
However, the benefits of this approach aren’t always possible. For certain designs where a flat surface isn’t feasible, support structures become necessary. These supports extend the printing time and introduce extra post-processing work, as the points of contact must be smoothed manually after printing. The flat-back design stands as a simple yet effective example of how thoughtful design choices can lead to more efficient manufacturing.
After finalizing the logo design, Stevens Sieraden has moved into the production phase with 3D-printing now underway. Utilizing Liqcreate Wax Castable resin, the team is relying on state-of-the-art resin printing technology to bring the design to life with precision and detail. Liqcreate Wax Castable resin is compatible with most open 3D printers that use SLA, DLP, or LCD/MSLA technology operating at a wavelength between 385 and 405nm. Detailed printing parameters for Liqcreate resins, including support structures and processing settings, can be found in the processing guidelines.
Once printing is complete, the parts undergo a two-step cleaning process using ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Each wash cycle lasts approximately 3 minutes, with optimal results achieved when fresh solvent is used in the second cycle. For best performance, ultrasonic or vortex-style washing systems—such as those from Elegoo, Anycubic, or Phrozen—are recommended. Following cleaning, the printed components are left to dry in a well-ventilated space for 30 minutes before undergoing UV post-curing for another 30 minutes to fully harden the material. For the casting phase, Stevens Sieraden selected Optima Prestige investment material, following closely to the manufacturer’s preparation guidelines to ensure the highest level of detail and quality in the final product.
Left image: burn-out schedule used for this project.
Right image: 3D-printed Liqcreate Wax Castable resin, prepared for casting.
Following the precise burn-out cycle outlined in the reference chart, Stevens Sieraden successfully cast the 3D-printed parts in bronze. With casting now complete, the components have entered the final stages of production—clean-up and polishing—where skilled craftsmanship will bring out the refined finish.
Left image: bronze logo’s right after casting, before processing.
Right image: casted bronze parts after clean-up. The layer lines from the 3D-printed part are still visible in the casted bronze.
Resin 3D printing technology builds objects layer by layer—a process that leaves visible lines on the printed piece. These subtle lines are completely replicated in the final bronze cast, offering a near-perfect copy of the original model.
To achieve a flawless finish without these lines, the cast bronze can be meticulously ground and polished, removing the layered texture and revealing a smooth surface. Alternatively, craftsmen may apply modeling wax to the 3D-printed part before casting, smoothing it out in advance. This technique helps eliminate visible print lines, resulting in a cleaner, more refined final product straight from the investment material.
About Liqcreate Wax Castable
Liqcreate Wax Castable is a wax-based resin, perfect for manufacturing jewelry, dental and industrial parts using the direct investment casting method. Liqcreate Wax Castable is easy to use on open LCD, MSLA and DLP based 3D-printers in the range of 385 – 420nm. 3D-printed parts from this material captures intricate features and show crisp details. This wax-based material offers smooth surfaces with clean burnout for a reliable casting process. Create custom made elegant organic geometries according to your preferences with excellent casting for positive and negative engravings.
Key benefits |
3D-Printer compatibility |
| · High precision | · Asiga Max and Pro 4K |
| · Wax based | · Phrozen3D series |
| · Clean & ash-free burnout | · Elegoo & Anycubic series |
| · Excellent casting of engravings | · And many more |
