Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting
Cellular structures are a classic route to obtain high values of specific mechanical properties. This characteristic is advantageous in many fields, from diverse areas such as packaging, transportation industry, and/or medical implants. Recent studies have employed additive manufacturing and casting...
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doaj-31010c97007b4c54a2411d0484f03ebc2020-11-25T00:52:52ZengMDPI AGJournal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing2504-44942019-04-01323410.3390/jmmp3020034jmmp3020034Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment CastingVitor H. Carneiro0Hélder Puga1Nuno Peixinho2José Meireles3MEtRiCS—Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalCMEMS—UMinho, University of Minho, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalMEtRiCS—Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalMEtRiCS—Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalCellular structures are a classic route to obtain high values of specific mechanical properties. This characteristic is advantageous in many fields, from diverse areas such as packaging, transportation industry, and/or medical implants. Recent studies have employed additive manufacturing and casting techniques to obtain non-stochastic cellular materials, thus, generating an in situ control on the overall mechanical properties. Both techniques display issues, such as lack of control at a microstructural level in the additive manufacturing of metallic alloys and the difficulty in casting thin-rib cellular materials (e.g., metallic scaffolds). To mitigate these problems, this study shows a combination of additive manufacturing and investment casting, in which vacuum is used to assist the filling of thin-rib and high aspect-ratio scaffolds. The process uses 3D printing to produce the investment model. Even though, vacuum is fundamental to allow a complete filling of the models, the temperatures of both mold and casting are important to the success of this route. Minimum temperatures of 250 °C for the mold and 700 °C for the casting must be used to guarantee a successful casting. Cast samples shown small deviations relatively to the initial CAD model, mainly small expansions in rib length and contraction in rib thickness may be observed. However, these changes may be advantageous to obtain higher values of aspect ratio in the final samples.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/3/2/34scaffoldinvestment castingthin-wallaluminum alloyvacuumfilling |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Vitor H. Carneiro Hélder Puga Nuno Peixinho José Meireles |
spellingShingle |
Vitor H. Carneiro Hélder Puga Nuno Peixinho José Meireles Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing scaffold investment casting thin-wall aluminum alloy vacuum filling |
author_facet |
Vitor H. Carneiro Hélder Puga Nuno Peixinho José Meireles |
author_sort |
Vitor H. Carneiro |
title |
Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting |
title_short |
Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting |
title_full |
Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting |
title_fullStr |
Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting |
title_full_unstemmed |
Thin-Rib and High Aspect Ratio Non-Stochastic Scaffolds by Vacuum Assisted Investment Casting |
title_sort |
thin-rib and high aspect ratio non-stochastic scaffolds by vacuum assisted investment casting |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
issn |
2504-4494 |
publishDate |
2019-04-01 |
description |
Cellular structures are a classic route to obtain high values of specific mechanical properties. This characteristic is advantageous in many fields, from diverse areas such as packaging, transportation industry, and/or medical implants. Recent studies have employed additive manufacturing and casting techniques to obtain non-stochastic cellular materials, thus, generating an in situ control on the overall mechanical properties. Both techniques display issues, such as lack of control at a microstructural level in the additive manufacturing of metallic alloys and the difficulty in casting thin-rib cellular materials (e.g., metallic scaffolds). To mitigate these problems, this study shows a combination of additive manufacturing and investment casting, in which vacuum is used to assist the filling of thin-rib and high aspect-ratio scaffolds. The process uses 3D printing to produce the investment model. Even though, vacuum is fundamental to allow a complete filling of the models, the temperatures of both mold and casting are important to the success of this route. Minimum temperatures of 250 °C for the mold and 700 °C for the casting must be used to guarantee a successful casting. Cast samples shown small deviations relatively to the initial CAD model, mainly small expansions in rib length and contraction in rib thickness may be observed. However, these changes may be advantageous to obtain higher values of aspect ratio in the final samples. |
topic |
scaffold investment casting thin-wall aluminum alloy vacuum filling |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/3/2/34 |
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