Rapid prototyping is an extension of the patternmaker's traditional skills. It is a process used to create patterns directly from a 3D model without tooling or machining.

Advantages of Rapid Prototyping for the foundry industry include:

• Speed: Rapid Prototyping gives the foundry ability to get complex prototypes back to the customers' hands quickly and cost effectively to determine systems shrink rates and develop difficult gating
• Design Validation: With a solid representation of an engineering concept in hand, the customer and foundry can together work out design imperfections, accuracy, casting potential and the ultimate functional capability of the part before committing to any production tooling, thereby reducing project cost & risk
• Low volume production: Rapid prototyping patterns can be ideal for small quantities of complex parts
• Master Pattern: RP patterns can be used as masters that can be mounted on a pattern plate. One can also cast multiple patterns from the master and mount them on a pattern plate after finishing them to proper dimensions.

With the RP systems set up at Imaginarium, foundries can benefit as below;

1. SLA parts that can be used as patterns for sand casting
2. SLA patterns can be used as masters for silicone moulding to take multiple wax outputs
3. SLS parts can be used as patterns for sand casting
4. Quickcast patterns can be used as expendable patterns for investment casting
5. CastForm parts can be used as patterns for investment casting and lost foam casting

If you have a unique requirement, please feel free to Contact Us and we will gladly look at the possible options for production of your part(s).