scholarly journals CERAMIC CORES FOR TURBINE BLADES : A TOOLING PERSPECTIVE

2013 ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
PRADYUMNA R ◽  
BAIG M A H
Keyword(s):  
Investment Casting ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Casting Process ◽  
Ceramic Core ◽  
Pin Fin ◽  
Investment Cast ◽  
Investment Casting Process ◽  
Forced Cooling ◽  
Super Alloy ◽  
Ceramic Mix

Blade/vane components used in aerospace turbines are of twisted aerofoil shape, made by the process of investment casting, using Ni based super-alloy materials. These castings operate at turbine inlet temperatures (TET) close to the melting point of the alloy, in order to maximize thermal efficiency and thrust of the engine. The castings are made hollow, with intricate features such as turbulator, pin-fin, etc built-in to maximize the effect of heat transfer during forced cooling through internal passages. The hollow geometry in the castings is produced during the investment casting process by using a suitable ceramic core made from Silica or Alumina based mixes. These ceramic cores are high pressure injected by forcing the ceramic mix into dedicated molds or dies. Development of such dies is an involved process by itself, addressing issues right from ceramic mix behavior to manufacturability of the injection mould. The present paper attempts to highlight issues related to tooling development for ceramic cores used in investment cast turbine blade/vane components.

Investment Cast Biomedical Implants From Rapid Prototyping and Tooling Techniques

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Walsh ◽  
D. G. Boyle ◽  
D. I. Wimpenny
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Investment Casting ◽  
Casting Process ◽  
Lead Times ◽  
Biomedical Implants ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Investment Cast ◽  
Wax Pattern ◽  
Prosthetic Implant ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Traditionally investment casting of biomedical implants has utilized the lost wax process, this paper is an investigation into the possibilities of casting small lots of custom specific medical implants directly and indirectly from various rapid prototyping & tooling techniques. Small batch quantities for quick turn arounds cost and lead times are the main contributing factors for the purpose of this investigation. To directly produce parts means that a RP model will be used in the place of the wax pattern in the investment casting process. To indirectly produce parts means that a mould, which has been generated from RP&T techniques, will be used to manufacture wax patterns that will then in turn be used to investment cast the parts. The device to be manufactured is a non-sterile, referred to as ‘trial’ prosthetic implant. The implant is used by the operating surgeon to check the ‘fit’ of the cavity that will be made to receive the prosthesis plus bone cement that will be used to fix the implant in place.

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