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Article: Investing with rapid prototyping: with the ability to produce near-net shape engineered cast components in days, the combination of rapid prototyping and investment casting is a key tool for both metalcasters and design engineers.(Editorial)
- Article from:
- Modern Casting
- Article date:
- October 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 American Foundry Society, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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It's Tuesday 4:30 p.m., and a particular engine component needs to be designed, cast and shipped by Friday afternoon. How? The time constraints are too tight, you say. What if the CAD design needs multiple refinements for manufacturability? It is impossible to overcome such a task. But then you discover a viable option that you believe would allow for completion of the component--using rapid prototyping to create a pattern for investment casting an engineered metal component.
Suddenly, the weight on your shoulders is lifted, as you realize rapid prototyping and investment casting can go hand-in-hand. Rapid prototype the pattern, coat the pattern in the refractory, ...