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Rapid casting is an integration of investment casting with rapid prototyping/3D printing. In this technique disposable patterns that are used for forming molds are created by any 3D printing technique, including fused deposition modeling and stereolithography.
Advantages
- Cheap for batch production
- Reduced turnaround time
- Representative prototypes
- Easier to make patterns
- Possibility to make the part lighter by removing unwanted material and stiffer by adding rib features.
Advantages of pressure die casting
- Cheap at scale
- Large parts
- Good surface finish
- High dimensional accuracy
- High tensile strength
Procedure
- A disposable pattern is 3D printed (can be of wax or any plastic used in 3D printing PLA, PETG, Etc.).
- The pattern, if made of wax, undergoes wax infiltration and other procedures to increase its strength and dewaxing properties.
- A mold is made by coating the printed pattern using a ceramic slurry.
- The pattern is melted out of the ceramic mold.
- Molten metal is poured into mold.