I. Equipment selection strategy based on casting size

The size of the casting is a central factor in determining the specification of a sand 3D printer, which needs to be selected with a balance between current needs and future developments:

1. Statistical analysis of existing casting dimensions
   1. Enterprises need to comprehensively sort out the past 1-2 years of casting orders, categorized by product type (such as automotive parts, aviation structural components, pumps and valves shells), statistics on the length, width and height of each type of casting size range, drawing size distribution histogram. For example, an automobile foundry statistics found that 60% engine block castings in 300-500mm in length, width 200-350mm, height 150-250mm;
   1. Identify the "core size range" with the highest percentage and use it as a basis for filtering printers. As in the case above, 3DPTEK's 3DPTEK-J1800(molding size 1800×1200×1000mm) can easily cover most of the engine block sand printing needs, to avoid "small horse-drawn cart" (equipment molding size is too large, waste of equipment space and printing costs) or "too big to use" (equipment) (equipment molding size is not enough to print large castings).
2. Considering future business expansion
   1. Combined with the enterprise's market planning for the next 3-5 years, new product development plan, prejudge the casting size changes that may be involved. If you plan to develop the wind power equipment castings business, you need to investigate in advance the size of wind power hubs, blades and other large castings (wind power hub diameter of up to 3-5 meters), to reserve enough space for equipment upgrades;
   1. If large castings are only occasionally undertaken, consider 3DPTEK's 3DPTEK-J4000 Ultra-large size printer (maximum molding size 4000×2000×1500mm), or "sand cut block + combined assembly" printing strategy (3DPTEK equipment supports localized printing, which facilitates the operation of the cut block), to reduce the cost of equipment procurement.
3. Handling of special size requirements
   1. For castings with special dimensions such as extra-long, extra-wide, extra-thin, etc. (e.g., elongated shaft castings with an aspect ratio of more than 5:1, thin-walled parts with a thickness of less than 5mm), it is necessary to examine the printing accuracy and stability of the equipment in addition to the molding dimensions. 3DPTEK's bonded injection technology ensures that the molding of special-sized castings is performed with a high degree of precision of ±0.3mm, thus avoiding the scrapping of castings due to deviations in dimensions. avoid scrapping the castings due to dimensional deviation.

Second, suitable for the casting material equipment parameters selection

Different casting materials (e.g. cast iron, cast aluminum, cast steel) have different requirements for sand strength, air permeability and gas generation, which need to be matched with the corresponding equipment parameters and material technology:

1. Material properties and sand demand analysis
   1. Cast iron parts: due to the good fluidity of iron and moderate solidification shrinkage, the strength of the sand mold is required to be high (tensile strength ≥ 0.8MPa) to prevent the sand mold from erosion and breakage during pouring. The high-strength furan resin binder matched with 3DPTEK equipment, together with silica sand, can meet the needs of sand mold printing for cast iron parts;
   1. Aluminum casting: Aluminum liquid solidification speed is fast, easy to absorb air, the sand type is required to have good air permeability (air permeability value ≥ 150) and low outgassing (outgassing ≤ 15ml/g), to avoid casting porosity defects. 3DPTEK's open-source material process can be adjusted according to the needs of the binder formula, suitable for ceramic sand, zirconia sand and other low outgassing, high air permeability sand, to meet the casting of aluminum casting sand print.
2. Material compatibility and parameter adjustment
   1. The 3DPTEK sand 3D printer supports a wide range of casting sands (including quartz sand, pearl sand, chromite sand, etc.), allowing companies to choose sand materials flexibly according to casting materials and cost considerations. For example, when producing high-end stainless steel castings, zirconium sand (high temperature resistant and chemically stable) is used with 3DPTEK's special binder to improve the sand mold's anti-washout and anti-sticking properties;
   1. The nozzle parameters (e.g., orifice diameter, spraying frequency) and heating and curing parameters (curing temperature and time) of the equipment need to be precisely adjusted according to the characteristics of the sand material and the type of binder. For example, when using fine-grained quartz sand, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the spray hole (e.g., from 0.3mm to 0.2mm) and increase the spraying frequency to ensure that the binder evenly covers the sand particles; for thermosetting binder, it is necessary to optimize the heating curing curve (e.g., increase the curing temperature from 150℃ to 180℃, and extend the curing time from 30 seconds to 45 seconds), so as to ensure that the strength of the sand pattern curing.
3. New material application and technical support
   1. As the casting industry's demand for high-performance, lightweight castings increases, new types of sand materials (such as composite sand mixed with metal powders and nano-modified sand) are gradually being applied. 3DPTEK continues to research and develop new material processes that can be customized to meet the needs of enterprises and customize material solutions to help them quickly realize the application of new materials in sand printing.

Comprehensive Advantages of 3DPTEK Sand 3D Printers

1. Full-size product matrix: 3DPTEK has a full line of sand 3D printers ranging from 1.6 meters to 4 meters in size, including 3DPTEK-J1600Pro,3DPTEK-J1600Plus,3DPTEK-J1800,3DPTEK-J1800S,3DPTEK-J2500,3DPTEK-J4000 A variety of models, such as to meet the different sizes of enterprises, different sizes of castings printing needs, to avoid enterprises due to the limitations of equipment specifications missed orders.
2. open source material processIt supports users to adjust the binder and sand material formula as needed to reduce the material cost 20%-30%. At the same time, it is equipped with high-performance resin binder, curing agent and cleaning agent to ensure the stable quality of sand molding and solve the problems of material selection and process optimization of the enterprise.
3. High-precision molding technologyThe company adopts piezoelectric inkjet technology, high-resolution inkjet system, and special binder formula to realize ±0.3mm high-precision printing, which effectively reduces the machining allowance of the castings, improves the quality of the castings and the production efficiency, and is especially suitable for aerospace, automotive and other industries with stringent requirements for precision.
4. Flexible area molding without sand boxAs 3DPTEK-J4000 Innovative use of sandbox-free flexible area molding technology, support for local printing, can economically and efficiently realize the manufacture of oversized sand molds, compared with the traditional box printing, the equipment footprint is reduced by more than 30%, and the printing cost is reduced by 15%-20%.

Through the above selection strategy based on casting size and material, combined with the comprehensive advantages of 3DPTEK sand 3D printers, enterprises can accurately match the parameters of the equipment to achieve a high degree of compatibility between equipment performance and production needs, and at the same time improve the quality of castings, reduce production costs and enhance market competitiveness.

2025 砂型 3D 打印機選型指南：根據鑄件尺寸、材質選對設備參數最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

First, the 4 major pain points of the traditional large-scale sand molding process, 4-meter 3D printing how to crack?

Traditional large-scale sand mold manufacturing (size over 2 meters) needs to go through "mold making - sand core disassembly - manual assembly", there are difficult to solve the pain points, but 4-meter sand 3D printing through the "integrated molding + digital process" to achieve a comprehensive breakthrough. process" to realize a comprehensive breakthrough:

Second, 4-meter-class large sand 3D printer core analysis: 3DPTEK-J4000 parameters and technical advantages

1. Key parameters: meeting the full scenario requirements for large castings

3DPTEK-J4000 As a benchmark equipment in the industry, it is not a simple enlargement of a small printer, but an exclusive design for large-scale sand manufacturing with the following core parameters:

1. Maximum molding size: 4000mm x 2000mm x 1000mm (can print the whole sand pattern of 4 meters long and 2 meters wide without splicing);
2. Process Type: Inkjet binder injection (3DP), suitable for special casting sands such as quartz sand, ceramic sand and ceramic sand;
3. Accuracy and Resolution: Dimensional accuracy ±0.3mm, nozzle resolution 400dpi, surface finish up to Ra6.3μm;
4. Layer thickness and efficiencyLayer thickness can be adjusted to 0.2-0.5mm, and 2-3 sets of medium-sized sand patterns (e.g. 2-meter-long pump body sand patterns) can be printed in a single day;
5. Material utilization: 100% of uncured sand recycled with less than 5% of material waste.

2. Core technology: "sand-free flexible area molding" cost reduction

Traditional 4-meter sand molding equipment needs to be fixed large sand box, a single print needs to be filled with tens of tons of sand, the cost is extremely high. And 3DPTEK-J4000 A breakthrough was achieved with the "Sandless Flexible Area Molding Technology":

• Eliminates the need for a fixed sand box, dynamically adjusts the sand bed area to the size of the sand pattern, and reduces the amount of 70% sand used;
• Elimination of large sanding box infrastructure investment (traditional sanding box cost more than 200,000 yuan);
• Equipment purchase cost is the same as 2.5-meter class equipment, with a 50% return on investment.

The 5 core advantages of 4-meter sand 3D printing: directly enhancing enterprise competitiveness

1. Shorter cycle time 80% to seize the market opportunity

It takes 6 weeks to make a 4-meter engine block sand mold by traditional process, but 3DPTEK-J4000 takes only 3 days to finish printing, and the whole cycle from design to casting delivery is compressed from 3 months to 1 month. A heavy machinery company used it to make large gearbox shell sand mold, new products on the market 2 months ahead of schedule, to seize a share of 30% market segment.

2. Achievement of "oversized + complex" integrated molding

No need to consider the constraints of "stripping" and "splicing" of conventional processes, making it possible to accomplish difficult designs:

• Aerospace: 4-meter-long turbine casing for theInternal multi-layer cooling channels(The traditional process requires 12 sets of sand cores to be disassembled, while 3D printing molds them in a single pass);
• Energy sector: 3-meter diameter wind turbine flangesTopology-optimized weight-reducing structures(Weight reduction 20%, strength increase 15%);
• In the field of industrial machinery: 4-meter-long pump bodies for theSpiral Worm Structure(No splicing seams, 8% increase in fluid efficiency).

3. Long-term cost reduction 40% with short payback period

Despite the high initial investment in the equipment, the cost advantage is significant when calculated over the full life cycle:

1. Save mold cost: large castings need to replace 2-3 sets of molds per year, 3D printing can be completely eliminated, saving more than 1 million yuan per year;
2. Reduce scrap loss: a foundry with its production of large valve sand mold, scrap rate from 18% to 4%, reducing annual losses of 500,000 yuan;
3. Digital inventory: sand patterns are stored as CAD files, eliminating the need to stack physical patterns in the warehouse and saving 100 square meters of storage space.

4. Support "batch + customized" dual-mode production

The 4-meter molding space not only prints large sand molds, but also allows for the nested mass production of small parts:

1. 200 small pump body cores can be nested in a single print run (traditional processes require batch production);
2. Supports "1 set of large sand molds + batch of small sand cores" mixed printing, increasing equipment utilization by 60%;
3. Fast response to customization needs, modifications to the design only require updating the CAD file, no need to recreate the mold.

5. Comply with environmental requirements and help green production

Global environmental regulations are tightening (e.g., China's "dual carbon" policy, EU carbon tariffs), and 4-meter sand 3D printing meets environmental needs through two major technologies:

1. Use of low VOC binders (emissions below national standard 60%) to reduce air pollution;
2. Sand 100% is recycled and reused, reducing solid waste emissions by more than 100 tons per year, which meets the requirements for green factory certification.

Fourth, 4-meter sand 3D printing 4 major industry application scenarios (with actual cases)

1. Automotive and commercial vehicle sector: core components for new energy trucks

• Application: 4-meter long new energy heavy truckIntegral motor housingThe sand molding of large engine block;
• Case in point: a car company uses 3DPTEK-J4000 Printing the sand mold of the motor shell, the cycle time is shortened from 4 weeks to 3 days, and the casting has no defects at the thin wall (2.5mm), realizing a weight reduction of 30% for the motor and a range increase of 100km.

2. Aerospace and defence: large lightweight structural components

• Application: 4 meters longAero-engine turbine casing, Missile Launcher Tank Sand Type;
• Advantage: integrated printing to avoid sand core splicing errors, casting dimensional accuracy up to CT7 level, to meet the aerospace "zero defect" requirements.

3. Industrial machinery and energy sector: core components for heavy equipment

• Application: 4 meters longLarge Pump Body Worm CasingThe sand molding of wind turbine gearbox shells with a diameter of 3 meters;
• Case: A heavy industry enterprise uses it to print the sand pattern of the pump body, the surface finish of the fluid channel is improved by 50%, the efficiency of the pump body is improved from 75% to 82%, and the annual energy consumption is saved by 1.2 million yuan.

4. In the field of art and architecture: oversized bronze sculptures

• Application: 60 meters long bronze sculptureSegmented sand molding(e.g. the "Nine Horses" sculpture in Nanjing);
• Benefits: Eliminates the need for large wood moldings, allows for complex artistic textures, and reduces the sculpture production cycle from 1 year to 3 months.

Fifth, choose the right solution: 3DPTEK "equipment + ecological" integrated services

The success of 4-meter sand 3D printing requires not only high-quality equipment, but also a complete ecological support. 3DPTEK provides "end-to-end" solutions to reduce the difficulty of enterprise transformation:

• Proprietary materialsMore than 30 sand-binder formulations (e.g., low viscosity binder for aluminum alloy casting, high temperature resistant binder for steel casting) ensure casting quality;
• intelligent software: It comes with casting simulation system, which can simulate the flow of metal liquid, cooling contraction, optimize the sand design in advance, and reduce the cost of trial and error;
• Full Process Service: Full process support from CAD modeling, sand printing to post-processing of castings, free operator training (3 days to master the operation of the equipment);
• after-sales service24-hour door-to-door service at home, 5 service centers abroad (Germany, the United States, India, etc.), spare parts arrival cycle ≤ 72 hours, to ensure that the equipment is on throughout the year ≥ 95%.

Future Trends in Large-Scale Sand 3D Printing in 2025: Toward "Bigger and Smarter"

1. Continuing size breakthroughs: 6-10 meter class devices in development

3DPTEK has started the research and development of 6-meter-class sand printer, which can realize the whole printing of "8-meter-long ship propellers" and "10-meter-diameter nuclear power equipment shells" in the future, and completely eliminate the defects of large casting splicing.

2. AI+3D Printing: Realizing Intelligent Control of the Whole Process

Integrated AI system for automated completion:

• Optimization of sand mold design (automatically generate the optimal structure according to the casting material and size);
• Printing process monitoring (real-time adjustment of binder injection volume to avoid sand cracks);
• Quality prediction (AI algorithms predict possible defects in castings and adjust the process in advance).

3. Multi-material composite printing: expanding application boundaries

The future equipment can realize "sand + metal powder" composite printing, printing high-temperature-resistant metal coatings on key parts of the sand mold (e.g., the sprue), adapting toTitanium alloy, ultra-high strength steelRefractory alloy casting, expanding the application in the field of high-end equipment.

Conclusion: 4-meter sand 3D printing opens a new era of large casting manufacturing

For heavy manufacturing enterprises, 4-meter-class large sand casting 3D printer is no longer a "technological novelty", but a "necessity to enhance competitiveness" - it breaks the traditional process of It breaks the size and cycle time limitations of traditional processes, and realizes the triple breakthrough of "large-scale + complexity + low cost".

The commercialization of 3DPTEK-J4000 and other equipment has provided a fast track from design to casting for automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery and other industries. In the future, with the research and development of 6-10 meter-class equipment and the integration of AI technology, large casting manufacturing will enter a new stage of "full digitalization, zero defects and greening", and the enterprises that take the lead in laying out this technology will have an absolute advantage in the market competition.

4 米級大型砂型鑄造 3D 打印機：2025 年解鎖大型鑄件制造，縮短 80% 周期 + 降本方案最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

I. What is Sand 3D Printing? Core Definition + Process Characteristics (different from traditional mold making)

Sand 3D printing is based onPrinciples of Additive ManufacturingThis is an industrial technology that directly transforms digital CAD models into solid sand molds / cores. Instead of the traditional "mold-making - sand-turning" process, the sand mold is formed by laying sand layer by layer on the printer and curing it by spraying a binder. The core process isBinder jetting technologyThe J1600Pro, J2500, and J4000 models from 3DPTEK, for example, offer significant advantages over conventional molding:

Second, the foundry must use sand 3D printing 4 core reasons (to solve the industry pain points)

1. Reduced cycle time 80% for fast response to order requirements

While traditional processes take 2-4 weeks to produce complex sand molds (e.g. pump bodies, turbine casings), sand 3D printing takes only 1-2 days. Especially suitable forPrototype molding, small batch customization, emergency spare parts productionScenario -- A foundry uses the 3DPTEK J1600Pro to print sand molds of pump bodies from design to delivery in just 36 hours, a reduction of 80% compared to the traditional process, helping to bring products to market 2 weeks earlier.

2. Breaking through structural limitations and realizing difficult casting

Sand 3D printing eliminates the need for "mold release" issues, making it easy to create designs that would be impossible with traditional processes:

1. in the field of aerospaceTurbine blade internal cooling channels(The traditional process requires more than 5 sets of sand cores to be disassembled, which is prone to assembly errors);
2. AutomotiveLightweight thin-walled motor housing(Wall thickness can be as low as 2mm, conventional sand type is prone to fracture);
3. industrial machineryIntegrated oil passages transmission housing(Reduces post-drilling process and reduces scrap rate).

3. Long-term cost reductions 40%, offsetting equipment input costs

Despite the high initial investment in sand 3D printers, the cost advantage is significant when calculated over the full life cycle:

• Elimination of mold production costs (a set of large metal mold cost more than 100,000 yuan, 3D printing can be completely eliminated);
• Reduced scrap rate (digital design + simulation optimization, casting scrap rate reduced from 15% to less than 5%);
• Reduced labor costs (automated printing eliminates the need for manual assembly of multiple sand cores, reducing labor by 50%).

4. Comply with environmental requirements and realize green production

As global environmental regulations tighten (e.g., the EU REACH standard), sand 3D printing meets the need for environmental protection through two main technologies:

• adoptionLow Emission Binder(3DPTEK proprietary formulation with VOC emissions below industry standard 50%);
• Uncured sand can be 100% recycled, reducing solid waste generation and environmental treatment costs.

Three, sand 3D printing principle: 4 steps from design to sand (full process automation)

Sand 3D printing (binder jetting technology) is a simple, highly automated process that requires no complex human intervention, with the following core steps:

1. Digital Design and Simulation: Engineers use CAD software to build sand models, and simulate the flow of liquid metal, cooling and shrinkage processes through the 3DPTEK casting simulation system to optimize the pouring system and riser position of the sand model, so as to avoid defects such as shrinkage holes and porosity in the castings;
2. Layer-by-layer molding: The printer automatically lays down 0.26-0.30mm thick sand (quartz sand/chromite sand optional) and then, based on the slicing data, sprays the binder on the area to be cured and builds up the sand pattern layer by layer;
3. Curing and sand cleaning: After printing, the sand model is left to cure (strengthen) in a closed environment for 2-4 hours, after which the uncured loose sand (which can be recycled directly) is blown out with compressed air;
4. Casting and post-processingThe molten metal (aluminum alloy, steel, copper alloy, etc.) is poured into the sand mold, which is then cooled, cracked and removed for finishing - the entire process requires no human intervention in the sand mold making process.

Parameters of 3DPTEK Sand 3D Printer (Applicable to Different Industries)

3DPTEK, as an industry leader, has introduced several models of sand printers covering small to very large casting needs with the following core parameters:

Core AdvantagesAll models support "sand + binder" custom formulations, and 3DPTEK has over 30 proprietary formulations to match the needs of different alloys (e.g., aluminum alloy casting for low-viscosity binder, steel casting for high-temperature-resistant sand).

V. Sand 3D printing 4 major industry application scenarios (with actual cases)

1. The automotive sector: core support for the electrification transition

• Application Scenarios:Electric vehicle water-cooled motor housing, lightweight battery tray sand molding.;
• Example: A commercial electric truck manufacturer used the 3DPTEK J2500 to print a sand mold of the motor case, realizing an "integrated cooling channel" design, which improved the motor cooling efficiency by 30%, while reducing the weight of the case by 25% and increasing the range by 50km.

2. Aerospace industry: high-precision casting of complex parts

• Application Scenarios:Turbine blades, aero-engine combustion chamber sand molding.;
• Advantage: The dimensional accuracy of the sand mold reaches CT7 level, which meets the requirement of "zero error" for aerospace parts, and at the same time, avoids the scrapping of blades caused by the assembly error of traditional sand cores.

3. Industrial machinery industry: core components for large equipment

• Application Scenarios:Sand molding of large pumps and compressor housings.;
• Case: A heavy industry enterprise used 3DPTEK J4000 to print a 4-meter-long pump body sand mold, the traditional process requires the production of three sets of metal molds (costing more than 300,000 yuan), 3D printing directly eliminates the cost of molds, and shortens the production cycle from 4 weeks to 3 days.

4. Energy and marine industry: manufacture of very large castings

1. Application Scenarios:Ship propeller, wind turbine shell sand molding.;
2. Advantage: The J4000 model's 4-meter wide print size allows for the printing of very large sand molds in one pass, eliminating the need for splicing and reducing mold-fitting defects in castings.

Why choose 3DPTEK sand 3D printing solution? (4 core competencies)

1. Full-scene equipment coverage, adapting to different capacity needs

From 1.6-meter compact machines (J1600Pro) to 4-meter ultra-large machines (J4000) forSmall batch trial production to large scale mass productionThe J1600Pro is available for small and medium-sized foundries with a capacity of 5-8 sand molds per day, and the J4000 is available for large foundries with a capacity of 2-3 oversized sand molds per day.

2. Proprietary material formulas to ensure casting quality

3DPTEK has more than 30granule – Exclusive formulation for bonding agents, optimized for different alloys:

1. Aluminum alloy casting: low viscosity binder, good sand permeability, reduce casting porosity;
2. Steel casting: high-strength binder, sand mold high temperature resistance (more than 1500 ℃), to avoid the defect of sand washing;
3. Copper alloy casting: low ash binder to prevent inclusions on the casting surface.

3. Integrated technical support to reduce the difficulty of transition

Provide "equipment + software + service" full-process support:

1. free of chargeCasting Simulation Software(Optimize sand design and reduce trial and error costs);
2. Inside the casting technology center, can assist customers in sand testing, casting process debugging;
3. Provide operator training (1 to 1 instruction to ensure equipment operation within 3 days).

4. Global after-sales network to ensure production stability

The equipment has been landed in more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, etc., and the after-sales response speed is fast:

1. Domestic 24-hour door-to-door service (48 hours for remote areas);
2. 5 service centers abroad (Germany, India, USA, etc.) for quick replacement of spare parts;
3. Free equipment maintenance 2 times a year to extend the life of the equipment (average life of more than 8 years).

VII. Future Trends of Sand 3D Printing in 2025 (3 Directions to Watch)

1. AI+3D Printing for Zero Defect Casting

The future of sand 3D printing will be integratedAI Design Optimization System-- Input casting parameters (material, size, performance requirements), AI can automatically generate the optimal sand structure, while real-time monitoring of the printing process, by adjusting the amount of binder injection, sand laying thickness, to avoid cracks, uneven density and other problems in the sand, to achieve "zero defects " production.

2. Closed-loop sand recycling, material utilization rate of 98%

exploit (a resource)Automatic Sand Recovery SystemIn addition, the uncured sand and old sand will be screened, decontaminated and recycled, and the material utilization rate will be increased from the current 90% to more than 98%, which further reduces the material cost and meets the requirements of the "Double Carbon" policy.

3. Multi-material composite printing to expand application boundaries

The future of sand 3D printers will enable "sand + metal powder" composite printing - printing metal coatings on critical parts of the sand model (e.g., gates) to improve the sand model's high-temperature resistance, and to accommodateUltra-high strength steel, titanium alloyRefractory alloys such as casting, expanding the application in the field of aerospace, high-end equipment.

VIII. Conclusion: Sand 3D printing is not an "optional technology" but a "must-have transformational tool"

In the increasingly competitive metal casting industry, "fast response, complex structure, green cost reduction" has become the core competitiveness - sand 3D printing by shortening the cycle time of 80%, realizing difficult designs, long-term cost reduction 40% and help foundries break through traditional process constraints.

3DPTEK, as a leading company in the field of sand 3D printing, provides customized solutions for foundries of different sizes through multiple models of equipment, exclusive material formulations, and integrated technical support. Whether in the automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery or energy sectors, choosing sand 3D printing means choosing the double advantage of "cost reduction and efficiency + technological leadership", which is also the core way for foundries to survive in 2025 and beyond.

砂型 3D 打印技術：2025 年重塑金屬鑄造行業，縮短 80% 周期 + 降本方案解析最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

I. What is an Industrial Grade SLS 3D Printer? Core Definition and Technical Characteristics

Industrial-grade SLS 3D printers use a high-powered laser toNylon, composite polymers, specialty casting sands/waxesThe industrial-grade equipment for selective fusion of powder materials and other materials to build up solid 3D parts layer by layer. Its core technical characteristics are significantly different from desktop-level SLS equipment:

In addition, industrial-grade SLS printing requires no support structure (unsintered powder naturally supports the part), making it easy to accomplish things that are impossible with traditional processes.Complex internal channels, lightweight lattice structures, active componentsAll-in-one molding.

4 Core Benefits for Manufacturers Choosing Industrial SLS 3D Printing

In the aerospace, automotive, medical, foundry and other fields, industrial-grade SLS technology has become the key to improve productivity and innovation, the core advantages are reflected in the following four points:

1. No upper limit of design freedom, breaking through the traditional process limitations

No support structure is required, allowing engineers to designComplex internal cavities, integrated moving parts, topology-optimized lightweight structure-- such as hollow structural parts in aerospace and complex runner components in automotive engines -- are difficult to achieve with traditional processes such as CNC machining and injection molding.

2. Strength of parts up to standard, directly used in mass production scenarios

SLS printed parts are not "prototypes" but finished parts with useful functionality. Commonly usedPA12 (nylon 12), PA11 (nylon 11), glass fiber reinforced nylonThese materials have mechanical properties close to those of injection-molded parts, as well as excellent chemical resistance and impact resistance, and can be used directly in mass-production scenarios such as automotive interior parts and medical and surgical tools.

3. Reduced production lead time 70%, rapid response to market demand

From CAD model to finished part, industrial-grade SLS prints in3-7 daysThis is much faster than traditional mold making, which typically takes weeks. For R&D teams in prototype validation, small batch customized production, and emergency spare parts replenishment, this advantage can dramatically shorten the time-to-market cycle and seize the market opportunity.

4. Supporting scale-up and transition production to reduce costs

Industrial-grade SLS equipment can nest dozens or even hundreds of parts in a single print run, making it ideal forSmall batch mass productionSLS can also be used as a "bridge manufacturing" tool - using SLS to quickly produce transitional parts before committing to expensive injection molds, avoiding risky tooling investments and reducing upfront production costs.

Third, the core material of industrial-grade SLS 3D printing: more than nylon, casting application materials into a new hot spot

Nylon is the first material that comes to mind when you think of SLS materials, but industrial-grade equipment has achieved multi-material compatibility and specialized materials, especially in the foundry sector, are driving the digital transformation of traditional casting processes:

1. Foundry sand: direct production of metal casting sand molds / cores

by combiningQuartz Sand / Ceramic SandMixed with a special binder for laser sintering, industrial-grade SLS printers can directly print sand molds and cores for metal casting, with core benefits including:

• Suitable for pump bodies, turbine housings, automobile engine blocks, etc.Complex internal cavity castings.;
• Eliminates the need for traditional wood/metal molds, reducing mold costs and lead times;
• High precision of sand size (error ≤0.1mm), smooth surface, improve the yield of castings.

2. Casting wax: efficient production of wax molds for investment casting

Industrial grade SLS devices can printLow ash casting waxIt is used for investment casting of aviation turbine blades, jewelry, and precision hardware, as opposed to traditional CNC machining of wax molds:

• Low surface roughness (Ra≤1.6μm) to meet the needs of precision parts casting;
• Ash content <0.1%, no residue when casting dewaxing, avoid casting defects;
• Shortened production cycle time 50% for rapid production of small quantities of precision wax molds.

3DPTEK Industrial SLS Casting Equipment Recommendation

As a leading brand in the industry, 3DPTEK offers specialized models for foundry scenarios, adapted to the needs of industrial-grade production:

• SLS Sand 3D PrinterThe molding length is up to 1000mm, which supports the mass production of large-size casting sand molds and is suitable for casting of large mechanical parts;
• SLS Wax Mold 3D Printer: High-resolution printing (layer thickness 0.08mm), compatible with standard casting wax formulations for seamless integration into traditional investment casting processes.

Industrial-grade SLS 3D printing works: from design to finished product in 5 steps

The industrial-grade SLS print process is highly automated, with a 5-step core process that eliminates the need for complex manual intervention:

1. 3D design and pre-processing: Completion of the part design in CAD software, optimization of the structure (e.g., increase of wall thickness, nesting arrangement) by means of special software, and generation of STL files that are recognized by the SLS equipment;
2. Powder laying: The equipment automatically spreads the powder material evenly on the molding platform, and the layer thickness is controlled at0.08-0.35mm(precision adjustable);
3. Selective Laser Sintering: High-power laser scanning based on the cross-section trajectory of the part fuses and solidifies the powder particles to form a single-layer part structure;
4. pile up layer by layer: The molding platform is lowered one level, the machine is re-laid with new powder, and the laser sintering step is repeated until the part is fully formed;
5. Cooling & Powdering: The parts are cooled slowly in a closed environment (to avoid deformation), and the unsintered powder is removed after cooling (recyclable, with a material utilization rate of more than 90%).

V. Industrial SLS 3D Printer Industry Applications: Typical Scenarios in 4 Major Fields

With the advantages of high precision, high compatibility and fast production, industrial-grade SLS technology has landed in many key industries, and the typical application scenarios are as follows:

1. Aerospace: combining light weight with high reliability

• give birth to a childLightweight ducting, air handling componentsThe weight of the part is reduced 30%-50% through lattice structure optimization, while strength is guaranteed;
• Manufacturing of complex structural satellite components, aircraft interior mounts without assembly, reducing the risk of failure.

2. Automotive: rapid prototyping combined with low-volume mass production

• R&D phase: rapid printingHousing, bracket, dashboard prototypeThe design is validated in 3 days, shortening the development cycle;
• Mass production stage: small batch production of customized automotive interior parts and maintenance spare parts, avoiding investment in molds and reducing costs.

3. Medical field: personalization and safety at the same time

• customizablePatient-Only Anatomical Models(e.g., orthopedic surgical planning models) to help physicians accurately develop surgical plans;
• Produces personalized orthopedic instruments and surgical tools with materials that meet medical grade standards and biocompatibility.

4. Foundry sector: promoting the digital transformation of traditional processes

• Large metal castings: Direct printing of sand molds/cores for complex parts such as pump bodies and turbine housings;
• Precision parts casting: Printing of low ash wax molds for investment casting of precision parts such as aerospace turbine blades and jewelry.

Case Study: European Automotive Supplier Uses SLS 3D Printing to Reduce Cost by 40% and Increase Efficiency by 70%

A European automotive supplier needed to customize tooling for a short-term production task. The traditional solution used CNC machining, which required a 10-day lead time and high equipment costs; it switched to CNC machining.3DPTEK Industrial Grade SLS 3D PrinterAfter:

• Material Selection: High strength PA12 powder is used, the strength of the part meets the requirements of the tooling;
• Production cycle time: only 3 days from design to finished product, 70% shorter than CNC machining;
• Cost Control: No need for molds and complex machining, reducing overall costs by 40%;
• Result: Successful completion of a short production run and verification of the feasibility of SLS technology in tooling manufacturing.

3DPTEK Industrial Grade SLS 3D Printer: Why is it the Industry's Preferred Choice?

Among the many brands of industrial SLS equipment, 3DPTEK has become a popular choice for manufacturing companies due to its "mass-production oriented" design philosophy, which is reflected in its core competence in four ways:

1. Large size and high speed at the same timeSome models have a molding length of up to 1000mm, which supports the production of oversized parts. Meanwhile, the printing speed is 20% higher than the industry average, which improves the efficiency of mass production;
2. Strong multi-material compatibilityThe machine can be adapted to a wide range of materials such as engineering plastics, casting sand, casting wax, etc., so that one machine can meet the needs of multiple scenarios;
3. Full Process Solutions: Provides a wide range of services from printing devices toCasting simulation software, post-processing equipmentThe all-in-one solution eliminates the need for additional third-party tools;
4. Global Technical Support: Full-cycle service covering equipment installation, operation training and after-sales maintenance to ensure stable operation of the production line.

VIII. Future Trends of Industrial SLS 3D Printing in 2025: 3 Directions of Concern

With the advancement of material science and automation technology, industrial SLS printing will develop to higher efficiency, wider application and higher quality, and the 3 major trends in the future are obvious:

1. Increased print speed without sacrificing accuracy: Through laser power optimization and multi-laser simultaneous sintering technology, the printing speed will be increased by more than 50%, while maintaining a high accuracy of 0.08mm;
2. Expansion of material categoriesHigh-temperature composite materials (such as PEEK-based powders) and metal-based composite powders will be gradually landed, expanding the application of SLS in high-temperature and high-strength scenarios;
3. Closed Loop Intelligent ProductionThe integrated real-time monitoring system monitors the printing process through AI algorithms and automatically adjusts the laser parameters to realize "zero-defect" mass production and reduce the scrap rate.

IX. Conclusion: Industrial Grade SLS 3D Printing, More Than a "Printer", It's a Tool for Manufacturing Innovation

Industrial-grade SLS 3D printers are no longer just "prototyping machines", they are "design-production-application" machines that are capable of linking the entire design-production-application process.Production-grade solutionsIndustrial SLS technology provides efficient, cost-effective solutions to the lightweight needs of the aerospace and automotive industries. Whether it's the lightweight needs of aerospace, the rapid response needs of the automotive industry, the personalization needs of the medical field, or the digitalization needs of the foundry industry, industrial-grade SLS technology provides an efficient, cost-effective solution.

For manufacturing companies, choosing the right industrial-grade SLS equipment (such as 3DPTEK's sand/wax mold models) not only improves productivity, but also breaks through the limitations of traditional processes and seizes the high ground for innovation - which is the core value of industrial-grade SLS 3D printing in the future of manufacturing.

工業級 SLS 3D 打印機：復雜零件精密制造的革新方案，2025 年技術解析與行業應用最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

Figure: Sanhe Precision and SanDi Technology sign strategic cooperation agreement

Figure: Goodyear Mould and SANDI Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement

Cangzhou Bohai Sanhe Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a high-end casting head enterprise formed by a joint venture of several enterprises, including Japan Concord Foundry and Tianjin Binrui Trading, focusing on the research, development and production of precision castings for intelligent valve bodies, aviation hydraulic systems, gearboxes and other precision castings. In this cooperation, Sanhe Precision will introduce 3DP sand printing equipment of SANDI Technology to optimize the product development process and improve the production efficiency of complex castings, further consolidate its leading position in the global precision casting market and accelerate the upgrade to intelligent manufacturing.

Goody Mould (Shenyang) Co., Ltd. is a leading precision mold manufacturer in China, focusing on the design and production of molds for complex curved structural components such as industrial machinery, marine pumps and valves. Goody Mould will introduce SANDI's 3DP sand printing equipment for rapid verification of metal molds before development, which will significantly shorten the product development cycle, reduce the cost of the molds, and further enhance its competitiveness in the high-end mold market.

As a leading provider of 3D printing equipment and additive manufacturing services in China, SANDI Technology is committed to providing users in the foundry industry with all-round support from process optimization to production verification through its self-developed 3DP sand printing and SLS sand/wax equipment. In order to meet diversified market demands, based on 30 years of accumulation of powder laying technology, SANDI Technology has formed a complete product line of sand printing equipment, including 1.6m, 1.8m, 2.5m, 4m and other size series, covering the full size of 3DP casting sand printing from millimeter to meter level, which can meet the manufacturing needs of products of different sizes and materials, and, with lower unit cost and shorter delivery time, can help users maximize productivity.

Figure: 3DP casting sand printing equipment independently developed by SANDY Technology3DPTEK-J1600Pro/J1600Plus/J1800/J2500/J4000

From May 20-23, SANDI Technology is showcasing oversized casting sand printing and a full range of 3D casting solutions on-site during the China International Casting Expo, welcome to visit SANDI's booth (Hall S8-A06, Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Center) to exchange ideas!

第23屆中國鑄博會開展首日，三和精密、固德模具與三帝科技達成戰略合作最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

SANDY TECHNOLOGY Booth: Hall S8, Booth A06

The 23rd China International Foundry Expo will be held on May 20, 2025 at the Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Center (No. 888, Guozhan Avenue, Xianshuigu Town, Jinnan District, Tianjin), and Beijing SANDY Technology Co.

High-precision, large-size 3DP sand printer3DPTEK-J2500

3DPTEK-J2500 is an industrial-grade 3D casting sand printer launched by SANDI Technology, with a large-size molding capability of 2500×1500×1000mm and a high-precision printing capability of ±0.3mm, which is suitable for the manufacture of large castings in the fields of aviation and aerospace, electric power and energy, ships, pumps and valves, and automobiles. The equipment adopts piezoelectric inkjet printing technology, high-resolution inkjet system and special binder formula, which can realize integrated molding of complex structures and avoid the loss of precision of traditional splicing process. Through digital moldless molding technology, it effectively reduces mold development costs and waste emissions, improves casting efficiency and quality, and helps enterprises achieve cost reduction and efficiency and sustainable development. The equipment adopts high-end core components to ensure long-term stable operation.

Sandless Box Large Size 3DP Sand Printer 3DPTEK-J4000

The sandbox-free large-size 3DP sand mold printer 3DPTEK-J4000 launched by SANDI Technology provides an efficient, high-quality and low-cost solution for the manufacturing of ultra-large castings with its disruptive technology. The device adopts sandbox-free flexible area molding technology, breaking through the traditional process of design space limitations, support for local printing, the maximum molding of 4 meters of sand molding, large size, thin-walled, multi-dimensional curved surfaces and complex cavities (such as the spiral cooling waterway) casting integrated molding, and the selling price is very cost-effective. At the same time to provide open-source material process, can be adjusted for the user on demand, supporting high-performance resin binder, curing agent, cleaning agent, to ensure the quality and stability of molding, and further reduce the overall cost.

In order to meet the diversified market demands, SANDI has self-developed 3DP casting sand and SLS casting sand/wax series printers in full sizes from millimeter to meter, which help users maximize productivity with lower unit cost and shorter delivery time.

Figure: 3DP Casting Sand Printer

Figure: SLS Casting Sand/Wax Printer

3D Castingservice

Based on 30 years of 3D printing service and casting experience, SANDI Technology has established full-size, multi-material, and full-chain rapid manufacturing service capabilities through 3D casting factories and printing service centers in Xianyang, Shaanxi, Daiming, Hebei, Pingdingshan, Henan, Yulin, Guangxi, Rizhao, Shandong, Linzhou, Henan, and Tongling, Anhui, etc., and can provide rapid R&D trial production and batch production of finished metal parts made of aluminum alloy, copper alloy, cast iron, cast steel, magnesium alloy, high temperature alloy, and titanium alloy, as well as casting sand and wax 3-D casting service. It can provide users in the fields of aerospace, electric power, ship pump valve, automobile, rail transportation, construction machinery, etc. with rapid research and development of finished metal parts made of aluminum alloy, copper alloy, cast iron, cast steel, magnesium alloy, high-temperature alloy, titanium alloy and other materials for trial production and batch production, as well as casting sand and wax 3D printing services.

Contact: 13811566237

Website:www.ahjfzs.com

Address: Building 2, No.7 House, Jin Yi Street, Shunyi District, Beijing, China

[About SANDI TECHNOLOGY

3D Printing Technology, Inc. is a 3D printing equipment and rapid manufacturing service provider, a national specialized, special and new "small giant" enterprise, and a typical application scenario supplier of additive manufacturing of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). At the same time has laser and binder jet 3D printing equipment and materials technology and application process, three emperor technology business covers the development and production of 3D printing equipment, 3D printing raw materials development and production, 3D printing process technology support services, rapid finished parts manufacturing services, etc., to establish a complete 3D printing additive manufacturing industry chain, widely used in aerospace, electric power and energy, ships, pumps and valves, automobiles, rail transportation, industrial machinery, 3C additive manufacturing typical application scenarios, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the company is a leading supplier of additive manufacturing, Railway transportation, industrial machinery, 3C electronics, rehabilitation and medical treatment, education and research, sculpture and cultural creation and other fields.

三帝科技大尺寸3D鑄造解決方案將登陸中國國際鑄造展最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

As a foundry owner, do you encounter this situation often?

--Customers want to do small quantities of trial parts, do a metal mold to 200,000, the result of the order is only 50 pieces, a calculation found that the mold cost more than the money earned, can only give up the order!
--The customer had an order for an aerospace part with honeycomb structure, and the traditional sand core assembly error was bigger than the part size, so it was a big headache to stare at the scrapped casting!
--Competitors with 3D printing took a well-known automotive battery pack orders, their own offer is lower than others 30% or did not win the bid, and finally inquired about the delivery of people faster than us 2 months, very helpless!

--Customers do not move to change the design of the warehouse piled up more than 300 sets of scrap molds, checking the accounts found that the mold inventory occupied half a year of profit, which is too painful to taste!

--Customers sent a complex structure of the pieces over, and said that the price is not a problem, an assessment found that the traditional casting process can not be done, looking at such a high value-added orders can only be given up!

Below we help all bosses one by one to sort out clearly, an article to let you fully understand the 3D printing sand casting technology!

What is sand 3D printing?

Sand 3D printing is a relatively new technology, simply put, is like building blocks, with special materials layer by layer "pile" out of the casting sand.

In the past, the traditional method of making sand molds may need to make molds first, and then use the molds to shape, the process is more complicated, and if you want to make some sand molds with very strange and complex shapes, it will be particularly difficult and costly. But sand 3D printing is different, it works with a 3D model in your computer. You input the data of the 3D model of the designed casting into the 3D printer, and the printer will, according to the shape and structure of the model, put special sand or sand-like materials, according to the layer by layer in a precise way and bonded up, just like using countless thin "sand pieces" gradually built into a complete sand mold. In this way, no matter how complex the shape, as long as it can be designed in the computer, it can be printed out, and the speed is quite fast, and do not need to make complex molds like the traditional method, can save a lot of time and cost it.

Principle of Sand 3D Printer

Sand 3D printing is usually done usingBinder Jetting (BJ)The basic principle is as follows:

1. spread sand: The printer spreads a specific casting sand (e.g. silica sand, ceramic sand or coated sand) evenly over the printing platform.
2. spray binder: The spray nozzles precisely spray the binder according to a computer model (CAD data) to bond the sand grains in a specific area.
3. pile up repeatedly: The platform is lowered, sand is spread again and the binder is sprayed, curing and molding layer by layer until the entire sand print is completed.
4. reprocess: Remove unbonded loose sand, harden and clean the printed sand model, which can then be used for metal casting.

What are the core problems addressed by 3D printed sand casting?

The existence or birth of each technology must have its "mission". Commonly known as a solution to a particular problem, to meet market demand, this is the value of its existence. Below we take a look at the sand 3D printing technology to solve the thorny problems encountered in the traditional casting, as follows:

• Manufacture of complex shaped partsTraditional sand casting to manufacture complex shapes is difficult and costly, such as aviation engine blades inside the fine cooling channels, traditional processes are difficult to accurately mold. 3D printing sand based on digital models, can easily turn complex shapes into reality, from the dense concave, raised automotive engine block sand, to have a subtle biomimetic structure of the shell of the medical device sand, can be perfectly rendered.
• long production lead timeTraditional sand casting need to go through a long process of designing molds, manufacturing molds, debugging molds, large-scale mold manufacturing cycle often exceeds a few months. 3D printing sand without mold production, directly according to the digital model printing, design modification is only required to operate the model on the computer, reprinting can be, can significantly shorten the production cycle. Such as research and development of new automotive engine block, the traditional casting mold scrap remake at least two weeks, 3D printing sand can be completed on the day of the new model printing, the next day can be put into casting.
• Difficulty in cost controlTraditional casting mold manufacturing material waste is serious, the utilization rate of complex mold materials is less than 30%, and high labor costs. 3D printing sand on-demand printing, accurate sand, material utilization rate of more than 90%, reduce waste. High degree of automation of the printing process can reduce labor costs. Take a small foundry as an example, with an annual production capacity of 5,000 pieces of small pipe fittings castings, after the introduction of 3D printed sand, the material cost will be reduced by 150,000 yuan per year, and the labor cost will be cut by 200,000 yuan.
• Low precision of castingsThe traditional sand mold due to mold wear, parting surface fitting error, casting size deviation often exceeds ±1mm, subsequent machining allowance, material waste, and prone to local loosening, sand entrapment and other defects, resulting in uneven mechanical properties of the casting. 3D printing of the sand model by the digital model of the precise drive, sand size accuracy of up to ±0.5mm, can achieve uniform compactness, to avoid uneven sand loose, and at the same time optimize the solidification process to significantly reduce shrinkage holes, shrinkage, to ensure reliable internal quality of the casting. At the same time, the solidification process is optimized, greatly reducing shrinkage holes and shrinkage loosening, and ensuring stable and reliable internal quality of castings.
• High environmental pressureTraditional casting mold manufacturing produces a large amount of waste metal, waste plastic, sand processing waste sand piles up. 3D printing sand production, unused sand can be recycled and reuse, very little waste, and the printing process does not require a large number of chemical binders, reducing the emission of hazardous gases, and improve the workshop environment. According to statistics, after the adoption of 3D printing sand mold, the casting workshop waste emissions reduced by more than 80%, dust, harmful gas concentration of environmental standards.

How does a foundry evaluate if they need to buy a sand 3d printer?

The price of a sand 3D printer is not cheap (usually the larger the size the more expensive), to buy is relatively cautious, especially small and medium-sized foundries. In order to help bosses to assess whether there is a need to buy, we have specially organized the following some evaluation points, to give the boss of the traditional foundry a reference, and then according to their own situation to decide whether to buy:

production requirement

• Product complexity: If the foundry often produces complex shapes, castings with fine structure or internal channels, such as aero-engine blades, automobile cylinder blocks, etc., the traditional process is difficult to meet the requirements, sand 3D printer can play an advantage.
• Production size and lot size: For small-volume, multi-variety casting production, sand 3D printers offer the flexibility to quickly switch products without the need to make molds, reducing costs and cycle time. However, for large-scale, single-species castings, traditional processes may be more cost-effective.
• Delivery period requirementsThe sand 3D printers allow for shorter lead times and quicker order response if the customer has stringent lead times.

cost-effectiveness

• Investment in equipmentThe cost of purchasing a sand 3D printer, installation and commissioning costs, and maintenance costs need to be taken into account.
• running cost: Includes printing materials, energy consumption, and labor costs. Compare with the traditional casting process and analyze the high and low long-term running costs.
• potential gainConsider the potential benefits of using sand 3D printers in terms of improved product quality, shorter cycle times, and lower scrap rates.

technical capability

• Employee Skills: Evaluate how well your current employees know 3D printing technology and whether you need to train or recruit specialized talent.
• Technical Support: To understand the technical support capability of the equipment supplier, including whether the services such as installation and commissioning, training and fault repair are timely and effective.

market competition

• Industry Trends: Keep an eye on your peers to see if they are already adopting sand 3D printing, and if competitors are already using it and gaining an advantage, foundries may need to consider purchasing it in order to remain competitive.
• client needThe purchase of sand 3D printers can help to meet the needs of customers who want to see foundries adopting advanced technologies to improve product quality and productivity, as well as to increase their competitiveness in the marketplace.

environmental requirement

• If the local environmental protection requirements are strict, the traditional casting process is under great pressure in terms of waste sand treatment and exhaust gas emission, etc., sand 3D printers can help enterprises meet the environmental protection requirements due to the advantages of high material utilization rate and low waste.

What kind of talent is needed for sand 3D printing?

Considering that many traditional foundry enterprises may not be equipped with 3D printing sand casting related professionals, we have specially organized the position of workers need to have what aspects of the skills and usual job duties, so that factories in the recruitment of reference.

Professional Requirements:

1. Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Foundry Engineering, Additive Manufacturingand other related majors;
2. Familiarity with sand 3D printing (Binder Jetting) technology and experience in operating related equipment is preferred;
3. skillful useCAD, 3D modeling software (e.g. SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Magics, etc.), with basic data processing skills;
4. Understand the casting process, familiar with sand material properties, post-treatment process and common casting defects analysis;
5. Ability to maintain and troubleshoot equipment and independently solve common problems in equipment operation;
6. Good teamwork skills, able to work closely with casting engineers and production team to optimize the production process;
7. Strong learning ability to quickly grasp new technologies and a keen interest in the application of additive manufacturing in the foundry industry.

Job Description:

1. be in charge ofSand 3D Printerday-to-day operations, including equipment commissioning, print job execution and quality control;
2. Process 3D printing data, including CAD model optimization, slicing and printing parameter settings;
3. Supervise the printing process to ensure that the quality of the sand mold meets the casting requirements and that the necessary post-processing (e.g., cleaning, hardening, etc.) is performed;
4. Responsible for the maintenance of equipment, troubleshooting and solving problems in the printing process to ensure stable equipment operation;
5. Collaborate with the casting technology team to optimize the process of 3D printing sand molds to improve casting quality and production efficiency;
6. Research and introduce new materials and processes to continuously improve the application of sand 3D printing in casting production;
7. Responsible for in-house training of personnel on 3D printing technology to improve the overall technical level of the team.

summarize

In summary, sand 3D printing technology has brought many opportunities and changes for traditional foundries, which can effectively solve a series of thorny problems faced by the traditional casting process, such as the manufacturing of complex shaped parts, long production cycle, difficult to control the cost, poor casting accuracy and environmental protection pressure. Through a comprehensive assessment of production demand, cost-effectiveness, technical capabilities, market competition and environmental requirements, foundry owners can be more scientific and rational judgment whether to introduce sand 3D printer. Equipped with professional technical personnel, is to ensure that this technology in the foundry in the smooth landing, play the key to maximize performance.

In the increasingly competitive foundry market, take the initiative to embrace new technologies, and actively make changes, may be able to seize the first opportunity to realize the transformation and upgrading of enterprises and sustainable development. For traditional foundries, sand 3D printing technology is not only a technology change, but also a breakthrough in the development of bottlenecks, enhance core competitiveness of the perfect opportunity. I hope that all foundry bosses can combine the actual situation of their own enterprises, fully weigh the pros and cons, to make the most suitable for the long-term development of the enterprise's decision-making, so that the enterprise in the tide of the times to ride the waves, sailing to a broader market blue sea.

3D打印砂型鑄造，傳統鑄造廠老板必看最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

1. Addressing the limitations of traditional casting processes

Difficulty in molding complex structures 

Conventional casting processes often face enormous technical difficulties and high costs when manufacturing sand molds of complex shapes. For example, aircraft engine blades usually have fine and complex cooling channels inside, the traditional process of manufacturing such molds is extremely difficult. The sand 3D printer through digital modeling and layer-by-layer printing technology, can easily achieve the manufacture of complex shapes of sand molds, greatly reducing the technical threshold and cost.

Customized production is limited 

With the rise of personalized consumption and niche markets, the demand for small-lot, customized castings is growing explosively. However, the traditional casting process, with its high mold opening costs and long customization cycle, is difficult to meet the market's rapid response needs. Sand 3D printers do not require molds and are able to quickly design and print sand molds according to customers' special specifications, shapes and performance requirements, greatly improving the flexibility and efficiency of customized production.

2. Enhancing production efficiency and cost control

long production lead time

Traditional sand casting requires a lengthy process of designing the mold, manufacturing the mold, commissioning the mold, etc. The manufacturing cycle for large molds often exceeds several months. During the period may also be due to design changes or mold defects lead to rework, further extending the production cycle. Sand 3D printers do not need to make molds, directly according to the digital model printing, can significantly shorten the product development cycle, improve production efficiency.

Difficulty in cost control

In the traditional casting mold manufacturing process, the material waste is serious, and the material utilization rate of complex molds is less than 30%. In addition, from the molders to the molding workers, mold repair workers, the manpower investment is large, which further pushes up the cost. Sand 3D printer on-demand printing, accurate sand, material utilization rate of more than 90%. high degree of automation in the printing process, reducing the cost of manpower, significantly reducing production costs.

3. Improving product quality

Low dimensional accuracy

Traditional sand mold due to mold wear, parting surface fitting errors and other issues, casting size deviation often exceeds ± 1mm, subsequent machining allowance, material waste. Sand 3D printer by the digital model precision drive, sand size accuracy up to ± 0.5mm or less, reducing the machining process, reducing costs.

Uneven internal quality

Traditional sand molds are prone to localized looseness, sand entrapment and other problems, resulting in uneven mechanical properties of castings, prone to cracks and other defects. Sand 3D printer can achieve uniform compactness, to avoid uneven sand loose, and at the same time, optimize the solidification process, significantly reduce shrinkage holes, shrinkage, to ensure stable and reliable internal quality of the casting, to enhance the performance and service life of the product.

4. Environmental advantages

Traditional casting mold manufacturing produces a large amount of waste metal, waste plastic, sand processing waste sand piles up. The annual capacity of 10,000 tons of castings of the factory, the annual emissions of waste sand more than 5,000 tons, high treatment costs and pollution of the environment. Sand 3D printer in the production, unused sand can be recycled and reuse, very little waste. In addition, the printing process does not require a large number of chemical binders, reducing the volatilization of harmful gases and improving the workshop environment.

5. Reasons why foundries deserve sand 3D printers

Improvement of production efficiency

Sand 3D printer can quickly respond to market demand, especially suitable for frequent re-modeling of small batch products. It allows foundries to quickly meet customers' individual customization needs and improve customer satisfaction and market competitiveness. At the same time, the sand 3D printer supports mass production, which can print a large number of high-quality sand molds in a short period of time to meet the needs of large-scale production and improve production efficiency and yield.

Reduced production costs

Sand 3D printing technology directly prints sand molds without opening molds, thus greatly reducing the cost of opening molds, especially suitable for small batch and complex structure production needs. In addition, sand 3D printing equipment can be operated with only simple training, and does not require a lot of manpower synergy, which can effectively reduce the dependence on skilled workers, so that foundries can easily cope with the recruitment difficulties and expensive labor problems.

Enhancing Product Quality

Sand 3D printers are more accurate, such as the3DPTEKof 3D printing equipment, which means that the dimensional accuracy of castings is dramatically improved, the one-time pass rate of products is significantly increased, the scrap rate is reduced, and the foundry is allowed to utilize its resources more efficiently. At the same time, the 3D printed sand mold has better precision and surface quality, reduces the amount of grinding and finishing work, makes the production process cleaner, and improves product quality and process consistency.

Optimization of production management

With a compact body design, the sand 3D printer occupies a small area and is flexible to install, which is suitable for the different site layout requirements of small and medium-sized foundries. Modular production solutions can also support easy expansion of enterprises to achieve multi-machine linkage. Part of the sand 3D printer support digital monitoring system, business managers can monitor the production progress and equipment status in real time, to achieve a fully controllable production process, equipment operation data can be automatically stored to facilitate the optimization of production strategies.

6. Concluding remarks

The emergence of sand 3D printers not only solves many problems in the traditional casting process, but also brings unprecedented opportunities for the foundry industry. It provides foundries with strong competitiveness by improving production efficiency, reducing production costs, improving product quality and optimizing production management. With the continuous progress of technology, sand 3D printers will play an increasingly important role in the future of the manufacturing industry, promoting the foundry industry to a more efficient, more environmentally friendly and smarter direction.

砂型3D打印機解決了什么核心問題？這篇文章告訴你真相最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

Why is it called a sandbox-less 3D printer?

The boxless 3D printer is so named because it eliminates the use of a traditional box in the sand 3D printing process, significantly differentiating it from conventional sand 3D printers. Here's more about it from a variety of perspectives:

The role and limitations of traditional sandboxesSandboxes are an indispensable part of the traditional sand casting process and some traditional sand 3D printing techniques. It is used to hold the sand, provide molding space for the sand model, ensure that the sand maintains a specific shape during the molding process, and ensure the integrity of the sand model during transportation and box closing. However, the fixed size of the sand box limits the size of the sand mold that can be produced, and the production and maintenance costs are high. For the complex structure of the sand mold, the sand box is difficult to design and manufacture, and it may also affect the heat dissipation and air permeability of the sand mold, which may affect the quality of the castings.

How sandless box 3D printers work: The sandbox-less 3D printer adopts sandbox-less flexible area molding technology, in which abrasive and binder are stacked and molded layer by layer by the nozzle directly on the worktable. The equipment has a precise sand spreading system, which can evenly spread the sand material in the printing area, and the nozzle accurately sprays the binder according to the model cross-section information, so that the sand particles are bonded to form the sand shape layer by layer. In this process, there is no need for a sand box to provide molding space and constraints, which greatly improves printing flexibility and freedom.

Basis of namingThe naming of the 3D printer directly reflects its core technical feature, which is that it is free from the constraints of the traditional sand box, creating a new mode of sand 3D printing. This naming scheme is simple and clear, highlighting the essential difference with the traditional sand 3D printing equipment, and emphasizing its unique advantage of realizing high-precision and high-efficiency manufacturing of sand patterns without the assistance of a sand box during the printing process.

Sandless Box 3D Printer vs. Traditional Sand 3D Printer

There is a clear difference between the working principle of a boxless 3D printer and that of a traditional sand 3D printer. Traditional sand 3D printers rely on a fixed sand box to define the molding space, and rely on the sand box to provide partial support, and the print path is limited by the sand box; while sand box 3D printers use flexible area molding technology, expanding the printing platform on demand, breaking through the size limitations, and supplying the sand and binder with greater precision, and adjusting the internal sand buildup and binder injection to provide support, so the print path is more freely and flexibly planned, and it can effectively improve the printing efficiency and sand quality. It can effectively improve the printing efficiency and the quality of the sand mold.

Prospects for sandbox-less 3D printers in the foundry sector

The development of sandbox-free 3D printers in the foundry field is very promising, mainly in the following aspects:

Technological innovation and breakthroughs

Sandbox-free 3D printers continue to realize technological innovations, such as SANDI's 3DPTEK-J4000 Adoption of sandbox-less flexible area molding technology, can be customized to expand the printing platform, the maximum molding 4 meters of sand, to meet the production needs of 10 meters + level, breaking through the traditional casting equipment size limitations, for the manufacture of large and complex castings to provide the possibility of.

Significant cost advantages

On the one hand, the cost of ownership is reduced, as the price of 4-meter and larger boxless 3D printers is comparable to that of 2.5-meter machines, allowing companies to obtain larger sizes of abrasive molds at a lower cost per unit. On the other hand, material waste is reduced, as boxless 3D printers allow precise use of materials such as sand and binder, reducing production costs.

Strong growth in market demand

Aerospace, automotive, energy power and other fields of large, complex, high-precision castings demand continues to rise. For example, the manufacture of aircraft engine components, automotive engine block, etc., sandless 3D printers can meet the high-performance requirements for castings in these fields, the market potential is huge.

Significant increase in design freedom

The sandless box 3D printer can manufacture complex geometric shapes and cavities that are difficult to achieve by traditional methods, realizing parts integration and lightweight design, providing more space for product innovation and helping to improve product performance, reduce costs and enhance the market competitiveness of enterprises.

Significant increase in productivity

Compared to traditional mold making methods, sandbox-less 3D printing of sand molds or cores takes only a few hours to a few days, dramatically shortening the development and production cycle of new products, helping manufacturers respond faster to changes in market demand, and improving productivity and economic efficiency.

Superior environmental performance

Sandless 3D printers use materials on demand, reducing waste and disposal costs of leftover materials, and some of the equipment can use environmentally friendly materials and binders, which reduces environmental pollution, meets the requirements of sustainable development, and helps foundry companies to meet the increasingly stringent restrictions of environmental regulations.

Deepening Industrial Integration

The integration of sand box 3D printer and foundry is deepening, enterprises through mergers and acquisitions of foundries and other ways to open up the "3D printing + casting" process, to provide the whole industry chain overall solution, and promote the foundry industry to the green, intelligent, high-end direction of development.

探索無砂箱3D打印機最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。

I. High-precision and complex structure manufacturing capability

Sand mold 3D printers are able to create sand molds with extreme precision, which is essential for producing high-quality castings. While traditional methods of sand mold making are often overwhelmed by the complexity of the structures, 3D printing makes it easy. It is able to accurately reproduce every detail of a design drawing, whether it is a complex internal cavity, a fine texture or a thin-walled structure. This high-precision manufacturing capability not only improves the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the castings, but also reduces subsequent machining processes and production costs. For example, in the aerospace field, some key components require extremely high precision, and sand mold 3D printers can produce sand molds that meet strict standards, thus ensuring the quality and performance of the final casting, and meeting the demanding requirements of aerospace products for safety and reliability.

II. Shortening the production cycle

The traditional sand mold production process is usually more cumbersome, need to go through the mold design, production, assembly and other aspects, consuming a lot of time. Sand mold 3D printer greatly simplifies this process, it can be directly based on the digital model of the sand mold layer by layer printing, without the need to make molds and complex assembly operations. This shortens the production cycle significantly, enabling companies to bring products to market faster and seize the first opportunity. Taking automobile manufacturing as an example, the development cycle of new models is often very tight, sand mold 3D printer can make sand molds for automobile engines and other parts in a short period of time, accelerating the trial production process, helping enterprises to verify and optimize their products faster, and improving the overall research and development and production efficiency.

III. Cost reduction

The purchase of a sand mold 3D printer requires a certain initial investment, but in the long run, it can bring significant cost reductions for enterprises. On the one hand, as mentioned earlier, it reduces the mold making and assembly in the traditional sand mold making process, reducing labor costs and mold costs. On the other hand, as 3D printing can realize high-precision manufacturing, it reduces the scrap rate and subsequent processing costs. In addition, 3D printing technology can also optimize the design of the sand mold, so that it meets the requirements of the premise of more lightweight, thus reducing the use of casting materials, further reducing costs. For some small batch but a variety of products for the enterprise, sand mold 3D printer cost advantage is more obvious, because it does not need to make a special mold for each product, greatly reducing the production cost and inventory pressure.

IV. High degree of design freedom

Sand mold 3D printers offer designers a high degree of design freedom. Traditional manufacturing processes are often limited by the structure of the mold and the manufacturing method, and designers need to consider many process factors when designing a product, thus compromising the design. 3D printing technology, on the other hand, breaks down these limitations and allows designers to give full play to their imagination and design more innovative and unique product structures. For example, they can design castings with complex internal runners to optimize product performance, such as improving heat dissipation efficiency or fluid flow performance. This increased design freedom not only helps companies develop more competitive products, but also promotes innovation in the industry as a whole.

V. Personalization

With the diversification of market demand and the trend of individualization becoming more and more obvious, personalized customization has become an important development direction of the manufacturing industry. Sand mold 3D printer can precisely meet this demand, it can according to the customer's specific requirements, quickly create a unique sand mold, to achieve personalized custom production. Whether it is a single piece of customization or small batch customization, sand mold 3D printer can easily deal with. This is important for some high-end equipment manufacturing, medical equipment and other fields.

VI. Environmental protection and sustainable development

In today's era of environmental protection and sustainable development, sand mold 3D printers also have certain advantages. The traditional sand mold production process will produce a large number of waste and pollutants, such as waste mold materials, chemical reagents, etc., causing greater pressure on the environment. The sand mold 3D printer in the manufacturing process is relatively more environmentally friendly, it is mainly used in sand and other environmentally friendly materials, and can be optimized through the design and printing parameters to reduce the waste of materials. In addition, because 3D printing technology can achieve precision manufacturing, reducing the production of scrap, further reducing the impact on the environment. Therefore, the purchase of sand mold 3D printers is in line with the company's environmental philosophy and social responsibility, and helps the company achieve sustainable development.

To sum up, purchasing sand mold 3D printer has many advantages, including high precision and complex structure manufacturing ability, shorten the production cycle, reduce costs, high design freedom, personalized customization and environmental sustainability. For modern manufacturing enterprises, sand mold 3D printer is not only a kind of advanced production equipment, but also an important tool to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises and realize innovative development and sustainable development. With the continuous progress of technology and the continuous expansion of the application, I believe that the sand mold 3D printer will play an important role in more areas, for the development of the manufacturing industry to bring new opportunities and changes. Therefore, when considering the production upgrade and development strategy of enterprises, the purchase of sand mold 3D printer is a choice worth serious consideration.

為什么要購買砂模3D打印機最先出現在三帝科技股份有限公司。