Additive Manufacturing

HA-International has been pioneering additive manufacturing within the foundry industry since the dawn of the “3D printing age”. We offer a range of binder systems precisely tailored to all major printing systems.

Special emphasis is placed on the development of inorganic binder systems. Environmentally-friendly 3D printing is thus no more and no less than the next logical step towards an environmentally compatible end-to-end production process.

At the same time, we also feel obligated to further optimise our existing, tried-and-tested processes to more carefully steward natural resources and protect the environment.

With our inorganic binder systems for series production, 3D printing aligns with the accelerating trend towards environmentally friendly molding materials in the foundry.

Unlike organic systems, inorganic binders do not burn during the casting process and therefore do not produce smoke, odour or other environmentally harmful emissions. In order to speed up the reaction process, the build chamber is usually heated using infrared panels or bulbs.

3D printing with inorganic binders offers a host of benefits

• 100% inorganic binder
• High resolution
• Diverse application possibilities
• Good strength properties immediately after printing
• No emissions
• Good decoring ability

Our Enviroset 3D Resin allow for the use of both 3D printers with separate mixing systems, usually referred to as the dry-mixing process, and printers with integrated mixing systems.

We have developed qualified activators for both systems and matched them to our binder systems. Owing to the stable storage properties of the activator and sand mixture, the mixing process can be decoupled from the sensitive printing process. The printed cores and molds cure by themselves.

At least 30% of the activated unprinted sand can be reused and there is no need for post-curing in an oven.

Advantages of 3D sand printing with furan resin

• Diverse application possibilities
• Good strength properties right after printing
• Applicable for most alloys
• Inexpensive materials
• No post-treatment necessary
• Self-curing
• Perfect decoring

As an alternative to 3D printing with furan resins, we also have a range of phenolic resins specially developed for the additive manufacturing 3D printing process. They feature excellent mechanical strength, extreme dimensional stability, exceptional contour sharpness and high thermal resilience.

Our phenolic binder systems make it possible to print complicated geometries and undercuts that would otherwise be very difficult or even impossible to produce.

The sand is not activated prior to printing as described above but is added as raw sand. Infrared lamps are integrated into the printing process to speed up the curing process. All of the unprinted sand can be collected and reused. This leads to excellent de-sanding properties in the finishing process.

Advantages of 3D printing with phenolic resin

• Versatile applications
• Maximum accuracy and dimensional stability
• Outstanding surface quality
• High thermal resistance

Foundries that use 3D printing for their molds and cores can rely on products specifically developed for the process. The use of coatings specially developed for 3D printing can prevent the formation of rough casting surfaces and sand adhesion.

The strengths of coatings for 3D printing

• For application in iron, steel and aluminium casting
• Avoidance of casting defects
• Smooth surfaces
• Application properties tailored to different printing processes