Solid Free-Form Fabrication of Metallic Components

Abstract:

The influence of process parameters on shape stability and surface smoothness of cylindrical and rectangular castings produced by fused spinning deposition (FSD) method was investigated. The optimum conditions to control the shape and smoothness of side surface of the castings produced by the FSD method without water-cooling were limited to a narrow range of process parameters. The casting with a stable shape and a smooth side surface was obtained with the aid of water-cooling. The tensile strength of the castings produced by the FSD method was 1.4 times higher than those of the specimens cast into metal-mold and sand-mold, due to a finer equiaxed grain structure of the FSD castings. Employing the combination of the deposition patterns for tube and solid castings, some practical metallic components were fabricated by the FSD method.