Innovation that cannot wait for conventional tooling
Our customer developed an entirely new type of component for a railway application. The challenge was to obtain functional castings quickly in order to bring the new development to market, while only requiring a limited production run. Preferably without the long lead times and high costs associated with conventional tooling.
3D-printed sand casting: a unique and fast process
RG Castings Group provided the answer with an alternative production process: sand casting using 3D-printed moulds. Instead of manufacturing expensive tooling, the sand moulds are 3D-printed directly. This makes it possible to produce a new component in just four to five weeks, from the first sand casting through to the final CNC-machined part.
Thanks to a carefully considered material choice, no heat treatment is required either. This eliminates an additional process step and saves valuable time.
It is precisely this combination of sand casting, 3D printing and CNC machining that makes the process ideal for development projects involving limited production volumes, demanding requirements in terms of weight and strength, and tight lead times.
