Investigation of Investment Casting Pattern Using Fused Deposition Modeling

Abstract

In today's economic climate, various organizations fight with decreasing sales and increasing costs. However, industries that have implemented the process of investment casting are one of the ways of manufacturing complex metallic parts at a low cost. High tooling costs and long manufacturing time are associated with the metal molds production for producing investment casting wax (sacrificial) patterns. It leads to a problem with cost justification for personalized single casting or production of small lots. The present study evaluates the suitability of the fused deposition modeling (FDM) fabricated pattern for investment casting. For this, a case study on a part was also conducted to collect experimental data regarding the process. A trial component was fabricated in an FDM machine and then cast by the investment method. This research resulted in reduced process time and cost for the small and medium size of the batch.