Analysis of possibilities of high-speed prototyping technology in hot section manufacturing

Abstract

The article is devoted to the exercising of a trial technological process for the manufacture of gas turbine engine (GTE) hot sections by the example of a solid-cast nozzle block. To do this, the authors made up a plan of the experiment associated with the search for optimal conditions and parameters of a technological process of the sector master mold layer-by-layer synthesis from a photopolymeric material. The paper tracks the interconnection between the parameters of a 3D printing system Objet Eden 350 and the materials in the growing process by the PolyJet technology and mechanical properties of a master mold in the context of their influence on the surface layer quality and geometric accuracy of the final GTE parts’ casting. Based upon the analysis of the obtained research results and taking into account technical requirements, the authors managed to grow a nozzle block sector master mold, get wax models and conduct an experimental casting of a solid cast nozzle block wheel.