CRP Launches Windform PS

By DE Editors

CRP Technology s.r.l. (Modena, Italy) launched Windform PS, a new polystyrene-based material, optimized for the selective laser sintered (SLS) patterns for rapid casting technology.

The new polystyrene-based material is able to produce complex investment casting patterns. The sintered patterns are porous in order to allow wax infiltration, making them easy to handle and finish. Windform PS patterns can undergo the typical rapid casting procedure, including autoclaves and flash firing steps, low-temperature furnaces, and vacuum plaster casting methods.

It's suited for the foundry and RP market since the main applications are complex investment casting patterns, casting with highly reactive alloys, in addition to typical cast alloys.

CRP began to study laser sintering technology in 1997 to manufacture disposable patterns using Polycarbonate and Trueform materials. Although these materials were not suitable for Titanium alloy pouring, they were perfect for steel and aluminum alloys. So CRP developed new materials for rapid casting patterns sintering, and partnered with DTM Corp. in 1998 to be the first to use rapid casting for hard-to-cast shapes such as F1 uprights and gearboxes, and alloys such as Titanium.

According to the release, CRP was the first to optimize a polystyrene material for laser sintered patterns, the CastForm. CRP also began to optimize the engineering process and the manufacturing process, studying titanium rapid casting, based on the combination of rapid prototyping (RP) technology, to manufacture the disposable pattern, and investment-casting technology (lost wax casting) with titanium alloys. CRP used Castform from DTM Corp for many years.

For further information, a technical data sheet, or RFQs, visit Windform PS or CRP Technology s.r.l.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.