In the metal casting industry, theConventional sand mold makingLong limited by "long cycle time, low complexity, high cost" three major pain points - the production of a set of complex sand mold takes weeks, and it is difficult to realize the internal cooling channels, thin-walled structure and other complex designs. Andsand mold 3D printing technology（The emergence of (binder jetting technology as the core) has completely changed the status quo: it takes only 24-48 hours from the CAD model to the finished sand model, complex structures are molded in one go, and the material utilization rate is increased by more than 90%. This article will comprehensively analyze the principle of sand 3D printing, core advantages, industry applications and 3DPTEK equipment selection, to provide foundries with technical transformation and cost reduction and efficiency of the practical guide.

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.