Ceramic shell casting
To fulfill the increasing need for steel- and magnesium prototypes with sufficient mechanical parameters, we have made use of another prototyping procedure since spring 2004.
Similar to series investment casting, we implemented a ceramic mold making system able to produce even low part quantities in a profitable manner.
In the ceramic shell casting technology, a pattern made from a material whose melting point is low, e.g. wax or plastic, is the basis for the production of a ceramic mold used to cast metal components. The pattern is coated with a ceramic material layer by layer, by covering it several times with slurry and sand. It is burned out afterwards.
All significant process parameters, such as temperature and air humidity in the lab, viscosity and composition of the fluid ceramic, are monitored continuously.
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Wax pattern is dipped into ceramic slurry |
Slurry-coated pattern is covered by sand |
Heating ceramic mold before pouring |
A wide variety of steel-, iron- and light metal alloys can now be poured easily. Excellent thermal conditions during cooling beneficially act on the metals’ structure parameters and thus the prototypes’ mechanical characteristics.
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