Effective Factors on Forming Precision in Patternless Casting Manufacturing Technique

The patternless casting manufacturing (PCM) technique, which adopts a new concept of double scanning method, combines the principle of discreteness and deposition with resin-bonded sand technique. This paper is to evaluate the dimensional accuracy of sand mould on PCM. The two important factors—the liquid penetration rule in the space of particles and the shape and dimension of the agglomeration unit body, which influence the process parameters such as scanning speed, layer thickness, liquid flux on dimension accuracy, and surface qualities, were investigated systematically, thus the theoretical basis for these parameters was provided. Experiments on rapid manufacturing of sand mould were carried out, and the results of the free penetration and the constraint penetration well verified the relationship of the two factors and the process parameters.

Jetting Method in Patternless Casting Manufacturing Technique

In this paper, by studying the different kinds of jetting system in patternless casting manufacturing (PCM) technique, the different types of jetting mode are tested which affect whether PCM process can be done successful. The two different kinds of jetting device and their control circuits are designed based on which the relationship between the jetting system and amount of the catalyst flow is analyzed. The experiments show that the amount of the catalyst by using discrete jetting mode in the discrete jetting device is much lower than that by using continuous jetting mode in the discrete jetting device and in the continuous device when the pressured is fixed. At the same time, in the discrete jetting mode the amount of the catalyst flow can also be changed by adjusting the pulse frequency and its duty cycle, this can ensure the strength of the sand mould. The flow of catalyst in this discrete jetting device can match the scanning speed of the jetting device in real time which will improve the resolution and building precision of casting mould. When the amount of the catalyst jetting is too large, PCM process will fail.

Hybrid forming mechanism of patternless casting and laser cladding

In accordance with the requirement of manufacturing dies quickly and economically,a hybrid forming method of stamping dies for automobile panels is proposed.The method combines digital patternless casting and high-power laser cladding.An experimental study is conducted on the hybrid forming process and its trial production and application in the manufacturing of stamping dies for typical panels.Results prove that the laser cladding layer exceeds HRC60(Rockwell hardness)and thus meets the production efficiency requirement of automobile dies.The rate of defects is well controlled.Compared with traditional technology,this technology has remarkable advantages and advancement.

Simulation and experimental research on extra-squeeze forming method during gradient sand molding

The flexible extrusion forming process (FEFP) is a sand mold patternless manufacturing technology that enables digital near-net shaping of complex sand molds. But, it is difficult to achieve the gradient sand molds with high surface strength and strong interior permeability by FEFP. To solve this problem, an extra-squeeze forming method based on FEFP for gradient sand mold was developed. To further reveal the extra-squeeze forming mechanism, based on the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) theory and “gluing” notions, the single and double-sided squeeze models of gradient sand molds were established using the EDEM software. The squeezing processes of sand molds with different cavity depths of 60, 100, 140, 180, and 220 mm were systemically studied under single and double-sided squeeze conditions. The variation in the void fraction of sand mold as also investigated at a variety of extra-squeeze distances of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm, respectively. Simulation and test results show that a deeper cavity depth weakens the extrusion force transmission, which leads to a decrease in strength. The sand mold permeability and void fraction are identified to be positively correlated, while the tensile strength and void fraction appear to be negatively correlated. The void fraction of sand molds decreases with a longer extra-squeeze distance. A 6 mm extra-squeeze distance for the sand mold with 220 mm cavity depth results in a 26.8% increase in tensile strength with only a 5.7% reduction in the permeability. Hence, the extra- squeeze forming method can improve the quality of the sand mold by producing a gradient sand mold with high surface strength and strong interior permeability.

Method for near-net forming of a sand mold with digital flexible extrusion technology

In order to further improve the precision forming efficiency of a sand mold digital patternless casting and reduce the amount of sand mold cutting, a method for near-net forming of the sand mold with digital flexible extrusion technology was put forward. The theory, optimization algorithm and technology for sand mold nearnet forming were studied. Experimental results show that the sand mold forming efficiency can be increased by 34%, and the molding sand can be reduced by 44%. The method for near-net forming of a sand mold with digital flexible extrusion technology can effectively promote the application of digital patternless casting technology in the mass production of castings and thus greatly improves the efficiency and automation of sand mold manufacturing.