The paper describes possibilities of using additive manufacturing technologies to manufacture single use casting tooling. The foundries usually cooperate with pattern workshops, which manufacture tooling using conventional processes. In case of patterns of complex shapes, it translates into higher costs and longer time of production. An alternative can be use of additive manufacturing (3D printing), proposed by the authors. The additive manufacturing allows to manufacture complex shapes as quick and cheap as simple shapes, being more fit for the more demanding patterns. The studies performed in this paper were aimed at determination if it is possible to effectively manufacture polystyrene (HIPS) patterns using the low-cost machine working in Fused Deposition Modelling technology and use them directly to manufacture castings out of GJS500-7 cast iron in the investment (burnt pattern) casting process. The paper presents examples of products that can be manufactured this way and also shows problems that appeared during the manufacturing processes.
Science Journal 