Rapid precision casting for complicated thin-walled aluminium-alloy parts

摘要

Based on Vacuum Differential Pressure Casting (VDPC) precision forming technology and the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, a computer based rapid manufacturing metallic parts method called Rapid Precision Casting (RPC) process has been investigated. The experimental results showed that the main advantage of RPC is not only its ability to impart higher internal quality and accuracy to complicated thin-walled Al-alloy metallic parts, but also shorten the time cycle of production greatly compared to SLS plastic prototyping to metallic parts. The key parameters of forming technology of RPC for complicated thin-walled metallic parts for developing new production and method and tooling were settled, established. It has been shown that it is possible to rapidly manufacture high quality and accuracy metallic parts by means of RP in foundry industry.