I love technology, 3d printing ceramic shells.

Discussion in 'Investment casting Ceramic shell method' started by DavidF, May 13, 2020.

  1. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

  2. rocco

    rocco Silver

    Now that is cool!! But at $250.00/L I'll wait for the cheap Chinese knock-off.
     
  3. I had thought that a silica sand based powder bed printer would be possible for the home player but that ceramic investment resin would be a game changer.
     
  4. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    But the potential is unlimited... dont just think of the price of the resin. Think about small complex cores that might not be able to be produced any other way than an additive manufacturing process... In your own home!!!
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2020
    HotRodTractor likes this.
  5. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    I couldn't get the guidelines and additional data to download......


    Best,
    K
     
  6. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

  7. Jason

    Jason Gold

    interesting... So instead of printing the pattern, ya skip that step and print the shell. I looked at the photos on the IMAKR link. Nothing to write home about there.:confused:
    Maybe soon.
     
  8. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    If you get your hands on some we'll wan't a full report. In a past life, we developed a product that used a ceramic structure with a very complex shape. The ceramic had some very unique properties but the production process was injection molding the ceramic and used modified plastic injection molding equipment and processes. We didn't invent that idea either but adapted it for our materials. Making an injection moldable ceramic feedstock took some doing but in the end, it was essentially 70% (very) fine ceramic powder and the rest paraffin, with some pixy dust for binding and green strength. It then needed to be fired. The feedstock was very abrasive and tool wear was a problem.

    The molded object would shrink approximately the percent by volume of the fillers that made it flowable/moldable and it was very hard to make the shrinkage occur uniformly so the fired ceramic object looked like a piece that was a 70% scale copy of the molded item. We got there but it took an interim step to chemically removed the carrier and then a complex firing regime. It was a hard learned process. I can post a picture of the object if interested.

    There must be carrier added to make it printable. If so it will likely require similar attention for dimensionally accurate molds.

    Best,
    Kelly
     
    Rotarysmp likes this.
  9. crazybillybob

    crazybillybob Silver Banner Member

    $250/L isn't too far out of line, I mean castable resin is $150-200 /L
     
  10. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    I'm going to hold off on ordering until I see some consumer feedback and see just what its capabilities and limitations are... I suspect many others are doing the same.
    Maybe vegi oil guy will splurge on a bottle and review it ?? How about it guy?? I know you visit here....
     
  11. crazybillybob

    crazybillybob Silver Banner Member

    David...it must feel good that your little forum for backyard casters sent enough traffic to a resin mfg companies site to have a rep join. If he could ship one of us a bottle of the stuff to test ....maybe provide some feedback to the community (no strings attached).
     
  12. dtsh

    dtsh Silver

    I had thought the same and I thought it would have been a good marketing opportunity; perhaps it says something about the product and their faith in it to perform as advertised.
     
  13. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Funny R&R didn't want to see it that way. They did take notice when I called them out on the carpet.
     
  14. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    I sent him the link through Facebook....
     
  15. Zapins

    Zapins Gold

    Neat. We all have 3d printers here too. The perfect niche market for them to sell to. But I agree, lot of cash to just buy to test out without one of us reviewing it first.
     
  16. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Look what the cat dragged in. Where ya been Zap?
     
  17. Zapins

    Zapins Gold

    Struggling to stay afloat at the hospital. I've been running the ICU for the past month and a half. They have me covering night shift now until next week. Miserable 100+hr weeks no weekends. What's the sun look like fellas?
     
  18. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Hot as F! It's been over 100 here. I spent all day today welding bronze IN THE AIR CONDITIONING!:p It was magical! Never broke a sweat once!
     
  19. OMM

    OMM Silver

    Zap, one of my good buddies is a doctor and they have him on 12 hour shifts, seven days on and then seven days off, and on call for his seven days on, well off.

    He explained they set it up like this for most of the specialists, For containment of outbreak, and being able to react.

    He is a cardiologist, angioplastyist and specialist in internal medicine. He does try to crash out a bit during his shifts and get a nurse to wake him up. I highly respect you guys responding to the call of duty.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2020

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