RodRico
Automotive
- Apr 25, 2016
- 508
Guys,
After much consideration, I've decided to employ centrifugal investment casting to fabricate my engine components. I made this decision for a number of reasons: 1) it produces a surface finish that's very good (typically 125 microns); it facilitates fabrication of complex routing passages for oil, fuel, and air through the rotor; 3) it lends itself well to outsourcing during volume production of affordable components; and 4) it allows use of smaller, lighter, and more affordable tools in a smaller and more affordable workspace. I know investment casting takes skill, and I'll have to learn a lot before I'm successful, but the same would be true if I elected to attain clean finishes using a mill and lathe alone.
Investment casting requires molds. In some cases, a component model for mold making will be produced by working machinable casting wax using a DSLS 3000 precision micro-mill. Other component models will be 3D printed using the Liquid Crystal HR then cleaned up using the micro-mill. After the cast part has cooled, it will be cleaned up using the micro-mill, never taking off more than a couple of thousandths of either 4032 aluminum or Maraging 350 steel (which machines like 4130 steel in the annealed state). I believe the fact that I'm never taking off more than a couple of thousands of metal using the micro-mill will allow me to produce an accurate and finely finished surface.
Your feedback is, as always, valuable. Please let me know your thoughts.
Rod
After much consideration, I've decided to employ centrifugal investment casting to fabricate my engine components. I made this decision for a number of reasons: 1) it produces a surface finish that's very good (typically 125 microns); it facilitates fabrication of complex routing passages for oil, fuel, and air through the rotor; 3) it lends itself well to outsourcing during volume production of affordable components; and 4) it allows use of smaller, lighter, and more affordable tools in a smaller and more affordable workspace. I know investment casting takes skill, and I'll have to learn a lot before I'm successful, but the same would be true if I elected to attain clean finishes using a mill and lathe alone.
Investment casting requires molds. In some cases, a component model for mold making will be produced by working machinable casting wax using a DSLS 3000 precision micro-mill. Other component models will be 3D printed using the Liquid Crystal HR then cleaned up using the micro-mill. After the cast part has cooled, it will be cleaned up using the micro-mill, never taking off more than a couple of thousandths of either 4032 aluminum or Maraging 350 steel (which machines like 4130 steel in the annealed state). I believe the fact that I'm never taking off more than a couple of thousands of metal using the micro-mill will allow me to produce an accurate and finely finished surface.
Your feedback is, as always, valuable. Please let me know your thoughts.
Rod
