ME 270: HW4

A reservoir in the mold that acts as a source of liquid metal to compensate for shrinkage

Can create very large parts with internal features; Less machining due to being near net shape; Can create complex part geometries

investment casting

Investment casting, Expanded polystyrene casting

Parts are near net shaped, which reduces post-processing requirements; Scrap metal can often be reused in future castings; Metal alloys that do not segregate during cooling can be cast

Higher throughput than all expendable mold casting methods; Can be used for only a few metals

Designs with holes should always be avoided if possible in sand casting; Sharp corners are to be avoided because turbulent flow can erode the mold there; Sharp corners can weaken the part due to the columnar grain structure at the corner; Small design changes can often eliminate the need for cores in sand casting; Metal casting is easier if the part has an even thickness throughout