Use of Helical Sprues in 3D Sand Printed Moulds
A published technical article examining how complex helical sprue geometries produced through 3D sand printing were applied and evaluated in aluminium-alloy and bronze casting trials.
Nattinee Valun-araya, Ongkarn Chantarasukkasem and John Pearce
Metal Casting Technologies · Volume 67, Issue 1 · 1st Quarter 2021 · pp. 20–25
Back to Research & PublicationsPublication Record
- Title
- Use of Helical Sprues in 3D Sand Printed Moulds
- Authors
- Nattinee Valun-araya, Ongkarn Chantarasukkasem and John Pearce
- Publication
- Metal Casting Technologies
- Volume and issue
- Volume 67, Issue 1
- Date
- 1st Quarter 2021
- Pages
- 20–25
The publication identifies Nattinee Valun-araya and Ongkarn Chantarasukkasem as affiliated with Speed 3D Mold Co., Ltd. Publication does not imply endorsement of Speed 3D Mold by the magazine or its publisher.
Why investigate a helical sprue?
Conventional gating geometry can be constrained by patternmaking and mould-production methods. By producing moulds directly from digital data, 3D sand printing makes it possible to manufacture more complex internal flow paths, including helical sprue geometries.
The published work examined how this design freedom could be applied to casting trials and evaluated together with casting simulation. The article should be understood as a record of the reported trials rather than a guarantee that one gating design will perform identically across different alloys, geometries and pouring conditions.
Approach described in the article
- Development of helical sprue geometries enabled by 3D sand printing.
- Evaluation through casting trials and casting simulation.
- Application across aluminium-alloy and bronze casting examples.
- Examination of applications including impellers and pump components.
- Consideration of both potential casting benefits and additional moulding-sand use.
Examples documented in the publication
C95200 aluminium bronze impeller
Included as an example within the published work. It documents one reported trial and does not represent every current Speed 3D Mold production process.
C95800 nickel aluminium bronze pump components
Reported in the publication as pump-component examples produced using 3D sand-printed moulds.
Aluminium-alloy and tin-bronze casting trials
The article also covers trials involving these material groups alongside the aluminium bronze examples.
Impeller and pump-component work is described further under impeller capabilities.
What the authors reported
The authors reported that the helical-sprue approach showed more promising results for small- to medium-sized castings within the trials described. The publication also reported an increase of approximately 8–15% in moulding-sand use for the evaluated configurations.
The study did not present the geometry as a universal solution. The authors identified helix geometry, diameter, number of turns and taper as variables requiring further investigation, supported by flow simulation.
These observations relate to the configurations and trials described in the 2021 publication. Casting performance remains dependent on component geometry, alloy, gating design and process conditions.
Engineering significance
The publication illustrates an important advantage of digital mould production: gating systems can be treated as engineered three-dimensional flow paths rather than being limited to geometries that are convenient to manufacture conventionally.
It also demonstrates the relationship between design freedom and engineering validation. Complex geometry alone does not establish performance; casting simulation, material behaviour and trial evidence remain necessary parts of the evaluation process.
From published research to current engineering work
This page records technical work published in 2021. Current Speed 3D Mold projects are evaluated according to their individual component geometry, material, operating requirements and production constraints.
Suggested citation
Valun-araya, N., Chantarasukkasem, O., and Pearce, J. "Use of Helical Sprues in 3D Sand Printed Moulds." Metal Casting Technologies, Vol. 67, Issue 1, 1st Quarter 2021, pp. 20–25.
Selected technical figures are reproduced from the supplied publication to support this publication record. All publication and figure credits remain attributed to the original authors and Metal Casting Technologies.
Thai-Language Technical Series
Helical Sprues and 3D-Printed Sand Moulds
A three-part Thai-language technical series published by Naichangmashare on 18 May 2025 presents selected findings and casting applications associated with the published work on helical sprues and 3D-printed sand moulds.
- Read EP.1 in Thai(opens in a new tab)
- Read EP.2 in Thai(opens in a new tab)
- Read EP.3 in Thai(opens in a new tab)
Published by Naichangmashare. The series credits Speed 3D Mold and, in EP.1, the named research authors, and the pages display Speed 3D Mold contact details. The publishing relationship has not been independently verified.
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