Printed casting
Cast parts with virtually near-zero lead times – thanks to an entirely patternless 3D sand printing process. Extra complexityat no extra cost. Perfect for one-offs, small series, and rapid prototyping.
3D sand printing is a hybrid process that combines 3D printing with traditional casting methods. At Römheld & Moelle, we produce molds in-house using our dedicated 3D sand printing production line – no patterns, no long lead times – and then pour the printed molds as usual in the foundry. We call it Printed Casting.
3D sand printing makes rapid prototyping possible and economically viable, with no additional costs for complexity or for small production volumes. One-offs, small series, prototypes, or slight variations of the same part areall achievable with ease.
The use of 3D sand printing in mold-making also enables a higher level of digitization in the casting process: from quick and straightforward price calculation to efficient scheduling in the foundry, through to a digital parts inventory that allows cast parts to be produced on demand.
3D sand printing expands the possibilities of cast part design, enabling rapid prototyping of castings. Undercuts and complex surfaces can be achieved effortlessly, with surface qualities comparable to casting with permanent patterns.
In prototype production specially, Printed Casting unlocks entirely new possibilities. Multiple small variations of the same part can be manufactured simultaneously, allowing designs to be iterated quickly and easily.
3D sand printing combines the best of two worlds: 3D printing and traditional iron casting, delivering countless advantages in casting procurement, as well as unlocking completely new applications:
No order too small: with Printed Casting, there are no pattern costs to amortize, making small quantities economical. No minimum order quantities apply.
Faster through the foundry: rapid casting orders skip weeks of pattern making, making previously impossible project deadlines tpossible.
Stay flexible: casting designs can be altered at any point, making rapid prototyping of castings a reality.
Greater freedom: functional integration and topology optimization? Absolutely! Printed Casting takes the design freedoms of 3D printing into the iron foundry. With no extra cost for complexities.
Fully digital: The Printed Casting process offers high levels of digitization, resulting in simplified price calculations, fast routing of orders through the foundry, easy progress tracking and even faster repeat ordering.
At Römheld & Moelle, our passion is iron casting, but our 3D sand printed molds can do more than iron. We regularly supply molds and cores to other foundries, those specializing in aluminum and steel casting, for example. This can plug a gap if a preferred supplier doesn’t yet have 3D sand printing capabilities in house, or – if you’re a foundry – it can help with peaks in demand, especially in core making.
CASTFAST is a casting procurement platform that enables quick and straightforward casting procurement. The idea for CASTFAST was born at Römheld & Moelle and has since taken on a life of its own. We are proud to have been the first foundry connected to the platform.
In addition to raw castings in iron, CASTFAST now also offers other materials (aluminium, steel, copper) as well as additional services such as machining, 3D design, and 3D measurement.
All of these can be easily purchased directly through the CASTFAST website (often with instant pricing). Iron castings from Römheld & Moelle – whether produced with patternless 3D sand printing or not – remain, of course, also available directly from us.
Römheld & Moelle Eisengießerei GmbH is a manufacturer of large castings for mechanical engineering, special machine construction and automotive toolmaking.
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