AFS exhibited at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME) RAPID conference in Orlando, Florida, May 17-19. AFS represented the metalcasting industry to the more than 3,000 attendees who came to the event to network and learn more about rapid manufacturing including 3-D printing, 3-D scanning, and the additive manufacturing industry. RAPID is the largest show of its kind in the U.S.
AFS helped organize several casting seminars that discussed how metalcasting is using 3D additive manufacturing methods, including the session on Integrating Design Efficiency with Additive Manufacturing to Improve Time to Market. In this session, Thomas A. Sorovetz, Casting Engineer FIAT Chrysler Automobiles, Outgoing AFS Vice President Technology Tom Prucha and incoming AFS Vice President Technology Zayna Connor provided an interactive overview of various metalcasting processes and alloys to help designers and purchasers make better design and sourcing decisions for engineered cast components.
The AFS exhibit on the show floor showcased various casting examples and the available casting supply chain to the audience, demonstrating how metalcasting is a viable option in all types of manufacturing, including prototyping and rapid manufacturing.
“Our participation in the RAPID conference is another opportunity to showcase the metalcasting industry as a viable manufacturing option,” said Alfred Spada, Vice President Business Development, AFS. “We met some great innovators at the show who may not have realized how metalcasting is taking advantage of the emerging methods for prototyping and quick-to-market manufacturing.”
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., AFS is a not-for-profit technical and management society that has existed since 1896 to provide and promote knowledge and services that strengthen the metalcasting industry for the ultimate benefit of its customers and society.
The view from above the RAPID 2016 show floor.