1995 / Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings
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Author Richard Hague, Phill Dickens, University of Nottingham
Source Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings, 1995, pp 242-252
Abstract Improvements in resins and build styles, coupled with increasing experience, have meant that ever more metal parts are being produced from stereolithography (SL) models via the investment casting route. However, despite these advances, it is still not possible for every foundry to directly use SL models as thermally expendable patterns and gain the same success as achieved with wax patterns. The central reason behind the inability to investment cast some SL parts lies in the expansion of the cured resin. The thermoset plastic material of the SL model does not melt during the autoclave process and its expansion creates stresses in the ceramic wall that cause the relatively weak shell to crack. A work programme is in progress at the University of Nottingham to show how, why and when these stresses are built up and compare them to the stresses created during the conventional autoclaving of wax parts. The eventual aim of the project is to gain a full understanding of the stresses induced in the models and to develop new build structures that will allow the successful autoclaving and subsequent casting of stereolithography models. Details of the work programme are outlined in this paper, along with initial results obtained. (Auth abstract) [References: 7]
Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings can be obtained from: The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
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