Investment Casting with SLA 3D-Printed Patterns
How does it work?
With 3D-printed stereolithography patterns, you can enhance your designs and achieve greater complexity. Unlock new possibilities while simplifying your manufacturing process and lowering production costs.
Investment Casting with UnionTech in 9 Steps
Step 1
3D Printing
Create master patterns for investment casting using UnionTech's industrial SLA 3D printers.
Step 2
Wax Tree
Assemble the printed patterns into a wax tree to prepare multiple casts simultaneously.
Step 3
Ceramic Slurry
Coat the mold with layers of ceramic slurry to form a hard shell around the 3D-printed pattern.
Step 4
Dewaxing
Burn and remove the pattern using an industrial furnace, leaving a hollow cavity in the ceramic shell.
Step 5
Ash Cleaning
Clean out any residual ash or debris from the hollowed-out cast.
Step 6
Metal Casting
Pour molten metal into the hollow cavity, forming the final metal part.
Step 7
Deshelling
Remove the cast metal from the ceramic shell to reveal the rough metal component.
Step 8
Post-Processing
Refine the cast parts through techniques like cutting, polishing, sandblasting, and machining.
Step 9
Finished Parts
Assemble the final parts after the quality control processes.
Advantages
Why choose SLA 3D printing?
Manufacturers are shifting away from traditional methods of creating investment casting patterns, such as CNC-machining molds and injecting wax, in favor of the design flexibility and cost efficiency offered by directly 3D printing master patterns for casting.
Go from CAD data to final part without molding or wax injection.
25 different models for investment casting patterns can be 3D printed with UnionTech Lite800, all ready for casting, in the same day. The part size is 150.00 x 150.00 x 38.40 mm. Polydevs software was used for data preparation.
Go from CAD data to final part without molding or wax injection.
25 different models for investment casting patterns can be 3D printed with UnionTech Lite800, all ready for casting, in the same day. The part size is 150.00 x 150.00 x 38.40 mm. Polydevs software was used for data preparation.
SLA 3D Printing
1-2 Days
Rubber/Silicone Molds
7-10 Days
CNC-Machined Molds
2-3 Weeks
UnionTech 3D Printers
UnionTech enables cost-effective and rapid manufacturing of investment casting patterns using materials like Somos® WaterShed XC 11122 and Crysta-EB, providing businesses with a competitive advantage. Want to learn more about this application? Contact us today.
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