. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DESIGN DETAILS
Part Consolidation Makes Titanium an Economic Choice
Jiten Shah, Product Development & Analysis, Naperville, Illinois CASTING PROFILE
Cast Component: Rifl e scope body casting. Casting Process: Investment casting. Material: Titanium. Weight: 0.5 lbs. (220 g). Casting Application: Military.
cost reduction over an aluminum machined forging by eliminating machining. Browe wanted a material that would outper- form the industry standard 7075-T6 aluminum. Titanium offers a higher strength-to-weight ratio and better corrosion resistance than alumi- num. Through part consolida- tion, the more expensive titanium could be used at a price point that met the market threshold.
D
esigners of a Browe rifl e scope for military grade tactical rifl es were able to consolidate complex sub-assemblies into one near-net- shape confi guration with the investment casting process. The casting, which was produced by Ti Squared Technologies Inc., Sweet Home, Ore., offered a 20%
Part consolidation incorporated various subcomponents while meeting performance requirements.
The single casting incorporated:
• internal score lines • battery housing • electronic control box • mounting base • cored internal wiring passage and • raised graphics. Investment casting offers freedom with respect to parting, orientation, appendages and features with no or little draft because the wax patterns (exact replicas of the fi nished part) can be molded and fabricated in multiple ways.
Process choice played a role in surface fi nish. The surface fi nish achieved with investment cast-
ing is the best among all casting processes due to the smooth fi nish of the wax pattern and fi ne slurry-based shell mold material.
22 METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING JULY/AUGUST 2011
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