610-261-9010

Get Your Instant Quote
ProtoCAM: Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping.

Additive Manufacturing in Foundry Pattern Making

September 8, 2016
  • Ready to get started? Get a Quote Now

  • Have a Question?

    Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch with you soon.
    Ready to request a quote? Click Here.

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Testimonials

    • “ProtoCAM's best attribute is their attention to detail and customer service. Their willingness and desire to keep in touch with me is impressive, and physical walkthroughs ensure quality standards are being met.” — Todd Frick, Versatek
    • “ProtoCAM's turnaround times are exceptional, and their prices compared to others are always better. There's a lot more value added in working with ProtoCAM.” — Matthew Bellenoit, B. Braun Medical
    • "ProtoCAM has been most helpful in responding to our needs. Their knowledge of stereolithography and CAD, and their application of these technologies has helped us reshape our ideas to reality in the shortest possible time frame." — Kenneth Raines, B. Braun Medical
    • "The Carbon [Digital Light Synthesis] 3D printing process was the perfect half step between late-stage functional prototyping and production. Aesthetics were crucial, and unless told otherwise, no one was able to identify the product was 3D-printed. [The process] accelerated business development and helped reduce risk as we approached tooling." — Michael DiCanzio, independent
    • "Our first experience with ProtoCAM last month was excellent. Quoting was prompt, engineering emailed and we spoke on the phone about a potential issue with the geometry of the parts so there were no surprises, the service was fast and delivery quick, the printed parts were of excellent quality, and all of the staff I dealt with were courteous and professional. You guys knocked it out of the park!" — Chris Davenport, RPC
    • "As an emerging 3D modeling student at DeSales University, it was an incredibly valuable opportunity to learn more about the new innovations in 3D printing technology and how ProtoCAM couples its technical expertise with artistic value such as custom finishing to deliver a final product that exceeds the client's expectations." — Austin Kaplan, Desales University

Foundry Pour

Ask ProtoMan: How is Additive Manufacturing Changing Foundry Pattern Making?

 

Additive Manufacturing will have a strong influence on the future of foundry pattern making, say industry experts.

This is among the top insights in a recently-released industry report. The Metalcasting Industry Roadmap, a 2-year collaborative project by the American Metalcasting Consortium (AMC) points toward the major impact of AM on an industry needing to remain globally competitive.

Two distinctive ways Additive Manufacturing (AM) will help accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the US are as follows:

Unlimited new design options

The additive layering process affords manufacturers a tremendous advantage of flexibility. Now they can convert nearly any digital model into a 3D shape or geometry. Parts and core mold assemblies traditionally were designed to accommodate traditional casting methods where internal geometry must be simplified to allow patterns to be pulled away safely.

Design engineers no longer need to concern themselves with the viability of their design being created. AM can produce patterns with complex and irregular shapes.

AM also can produce the highest level of tolerances no hand-made process can match. Fine tolerances lead to cost savings because of the drastic reduction in wasted material.

Unparalleled efficiency

Industries using foundry pattern making are among the most energy-intensive in the US. AM can help reduce this issue by opening the door to newer materials such as aluminum, titanium, zinc and advanced alloys that form thinner, higher strength castings with minimized energy requirements.

Furthermore, because of its digital workflow AM requires fewer manual steps for operator setup and process execution. This reduces the opportunities for inconsistencies and makes production a faster, more reliable process.

Send us your files

Interested in finding out how ProtoCAM Additive Manufacturing can offer an efficient and flexible solution for designing your project? Please send us your info for a consultation.

Read more from Ask ProtoMAN: