Rapid Metal & CNC
When you need a quick, accurate model, but cannot use a brittle material, your best option is a rapid metal prototype, available in aluminum, magnesium, zinc, brass and bronze alloys. This rapid prototyping process offers toughness, corrosion and temperature resistance, ductility and sterilisability. The process usually involves an SLA master pattern, produced to create a two piece clam-shell, hard tool, which is used to cast a silicone rubber positive mold pattern. Many times, CNC tools are used to create this initial tool. The rubber mold pattern is then used to create plaster, disposable (breakaway) negative impression molds. As many as one hundred parts are possible from the plaster mold, with an achievable 0.030” inch wall thickness. The build material uses a binder around steel particles, combined with heat sintered to generate the part.
Investment Casting Parts can also be used to cast in metal (the lost wax process). You need one SLA model for each cast metal part but this can produce very intricate parts. WhiteLight Design is up-to-date on the most current methods of rapid metal prototyping. We invite you to contact us with any questions and inquiries.
