Indirect Metal Part Production Shown is a breakdown of each of the major methods
of indirect metal part production, as well as details on each of the processes. Major suppliers of the technolo-
gies also are provided. (Note: Some of the defi nitions provided in the “Direct Metal Part Production” section apply to technologies listed here.)
SLA/QuickCast—Stereolithogra-
phy (SLA) uses a laser to convert a liquid resin into a polymeric object. An array of materials are available for making plastic parts in SLA systems. For the investment casting industry, solutions are available from service bureaus who produce patterns via the QuickCast process. QuickCast patterns can replace a wax invest- ment casting pattern with a hollow SLA shell, supported on the inside by a lattice network. SLS—Selective laser sintering
(SLS) uses a laser to partially melt grains of materials together to form a solid object. SLS parts typically have high porosity but are nevertheless tough. Metalcasting applications include investment casting patterns made of sintered polystyrene, as well as tough nylon patterns for sand casting. Resin bonded sand casting patterns also are available. Jet Printing—Jet printing tech-
nologies make 3D objects by de- positing a light curable polymer through a print head, then exposing the part to an ultraviolet light source to make it solidify. The technology produces tough, SLA-like parts on a faster, lower cost machine. Un- like SLA systems, which produce parts in a vat of resin, jet printing machines only process the resin that is required to make a part. These systems can produce patterns for sand and investment casting. DLP/MEMS—This technology
uses a DLP or MEMS system to “fl ash” or expose a large area of powder or resin and convert the raw material into a fi nished part. DLP systems promise higher speeds than other additive manufacturing processes, as they expose the entire cross-section of a part, rather than a single point (like a laser) or a stripe. These parts can be used for investment castings and patterns for sand molds. MC
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MODERN CASTING / July 2010
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