MUNICH, Germany, Oct. 17 -- EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems, manufacturer of rapid prototyping systems in Munich, Germany, has received a US patent for a new product that is used to make cast metal components. DirectCast allows its users to produce moulds and cores for sand casting directly from CAD data without requiring any patterns, core boxes or tooling by using laser sintering. A computer is used in the design of the cast component, which is subsequently inverted to create a digital model of the casting mould. A laser-sintering machine is used to produce the mould, which can be completed in a matter of hours before being used to produce castings in all standard casting alloys, said EOS. The method saves time and money in the development of new sand-cast components and the production of one-off or small series castings, said EOS.