Hi there !
you might be looking for something similar to this:
http://formlabs.com/products/materials/castable/
You can search for local hubs, that have a Form 1 or Form 1+ and offer castable resins.
As your final object should be out of metal or ceramics you might want to look for SLS printers (regaring metal prints).
These use a laser to sinter metal powder, these are usually only used by industrial buisnesses and the prints are expensive. However the quality is maybe the best you can get and you don’t have to care about the casting process.
As I mention the most expensive method I will also introduce you to the cheapest one: FDM printers.
While these have common layer thicknesses of 0,1mm (which is not enough for you) there are also some (like mine),
that are capable of 0,02mm layer heights.
A material called “Moldlay” is plastic, that’s intended for the casting process. The only purpose of this material is to get burned out of a mold to allow metal or ceramic castings.
Moldlay: https://www.3printr.com/kai-parthy-releases-moldlay-filament-casting-3327324/
As FDM printers do barely waste material and are the cheapest to purchase this is also the cheapest production method.
My recommendation would be to first look out for the castable resin, and if the quality isn’t pleasing you have to go with SLS or other industrial printers. If the quality is good enough you might want to take FDM printers into concideration, however small objects, like a crown are barely printable on a FDM printer.
Good luck with your PhD,
Marius Breuer
by the way I don’t offer Moldlay at my hub, but you can search for it locally, or create another thread in which you ask for specific materials, that would suit your purpose.
