Motorcycle Steering Clamp Craft Pattern & Mold, Montrose,
Minn., used rapid 3D printing technol- ogy to produce the sand mold for this prototype. T e fi rm converted its customer’s steel fabrication clamp to a single 356-T6 aluminum casting. T e raw casting weighs 2.6 lbs. and measures 6.5 x 5 x 3 in. T e part is the upper triple
clamp for the front steering assembly on Polaris Indus- tries’ Indian “Big Chief Custom” motorcycle. One of the advance- ments on the newly relaunched line, it serves as a structural component in a girder style suspension system. According to Tony Cremers, president, Craft Pattern
& Mold, using the rapid 3D sand printing process signifi cantly reduced the cost and lead time obstacles to
producing this complex casting. Pro- totype delivery was accomplished in days rather than weeks. “Near-net-shape castings eliminate costly machining and fabrication processes,” Cremers said. Another
noteworthy benefit to
casting the part was the customer’s
ability to incorporate its logo directly into the part, as well as its better appearance overall. “The use of high strength aluminum alloy allowed for critical weight savings, a key
driver of performance in the motorcycle industry,” Cremers said. “The cast aluminum design is approximately 30% lighter than typical fabricated steel models.”
Polaris Industries teamed up with Craft Pattern & Mold to solve a steel fabrication conversion design challenge on a line of custom motorcycles.
April 2014 MODERN CASTING | 33
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