New Rapid Casting Techniques for Competitive Motor Sports

Casting components utilizing free form manufacturing techniques to produce investment patterns have in recent years been overshadowed by the promise of Direct Metal machines. Despite this casting vendors continue to work diligently to make the creation of extremely complex components as an almost common place occurrence. This paper examines the work of CRP Technology and its creation of Windform® PS to advance casting techniques and ultimately produce front and rear uprights for the new “Epsilon Euskadi ee1” for competition in American Le Mans Series and 24 hours of Le Mans 2008. Developed and manufactured utilizing the “CRP Rapid Casting Method” these Titanium Rapid Castings highlight the hard and complex work involved in making this extremely difficult task look easy. The process is examined and outlined to help others understand the work involved.