Three-Dimensional Printing Assisted Investment Casting Processes for Intricate Products

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies are widely acknowledged for their custom-specific rapid tooling (RT) application in various engineering domains. In the recent decade, numerous reports advocated that the thermoplastics based 3D printing technologies has the feasibility to produce sacrificial patterns for investment casting (IC) processes. Further, compared to conventional IC, wherein wax pattern developments include the unaffordable tooling, the use of the 3D printing can help the foundries to exclude such conventional tooling. Despite this, the long runs involved in machining required metallic molds have also been eliminated. This book article is not designed to discuss the fundaments of 3D printing and IC processes; however, to produce valuable technical insights of 3D printing assisted IC (3DAIC), through innovative case studies. The content of this book article will be highly useful for the young scholars and commercial foundry units to take the overwhelming advantages of 3D printing assisted IC (3DPAIC).