Investment Casting with Ice Patterns and Comparison with Other Types of Rapid Prototyping Patterns

Abstract

The process of investment casting with ice patterns was studied with the objectives to reduce casting defects and increase dimensional accuracy of the cast metal part. Frequently observed casting defects included air bubbles and incomplete geometry of the cast part. These problems were addressed by optimizing the catalyst-to-binder ratio, vacuum treatment of water, pre-wetting the master mold, providing adequate mold support, controlling slurry pouring speed, and dressing the ice pattern before casting. The dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of metal castings from ice patterns were measured compared with of metal castings from other rapid prototyping patterns. It was observed that the ice pattern has a contracted cast part while the Stereo Lithography (SLA) pattern has an expanded cast part. The surface roughness of metal castings from ice patterns is comparable to that of metal castings from Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) patterns.

Meeting Name

Shape Casting: 2nd International Symposium

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Ice Patterns; Investment Casting; Rapid Prototyping

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2007 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2007

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