American Foundry Society Announces 2026 AM Conference

Project Overview

The American Foundry Society (AFS) has formally announced the 2026 Additive Manufacturing Conference, an event dedicated to the integration of 3D printing technologies within the metal casting and foundry industry. This conference serves as a primary platform for unveiling recent case studies that highlight the efficiency gains achieved through hybrid manufacturing workflows. The core focus remains on how sand printing and direct metal deposition are redefining lead times for complex cast components.

Implementation Process

The transition from traditional pattern-making to digital sand mold production represents the most significant shift in foundry operations in decades. By using binder jetting technology, foundries can print large-scale sand molds directly from CAD data, bypassing the need for expensive and time-consuming physical patterns. This approach is particularly effective for low-volume production and complex geometries that were previously impossible to cast without significant assembly.

Key highlights of the upcoming conference include technical tracks on organic binder systems, high-speed sand printing parameters, and post-casting structural analysis. The data presented will offer a roadmap for small to medium foundries looking to modernize their facilities without abandoning their core metallurgical expertise. The AFS emphasizes that additive manufacturing is a complementary tool rather than a replacement for conventional casting.