Method for rapid generation of multiple investment cast parts such as turbine or compressor wheels

摘要

The process for investment casting of complex shapes has historically had 6 basic steps in it. Depending upon the path taken, these discrete steps have been reduced to either 5 steps, or to 2 steps, discarding the unwanted steps. Instead of having to generate the shape of each sacrificial pattern, the process generates either(A) a male tree containing a plurality of sacrificial patterns, already on their runners, onto which a mold shell can be formed, or,(B) a female shell, made of a refractory material, and forming internally the outside surfaces of the plurality of patterns and runners.This process removes both capital expenditure for tooling and process time by up to 90%. By removing several lengthy, time-dependant steps from the process the part cost and lead time are reduced.