IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

INVESTMENT CASTING

February 2019

INTRODUCTIONINVESTMENT CASTING

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Key drivers

▪ Excellent surface finish

▪ High dimensional accuracy

▪ Extremely intricate parts are castable

▪ Almost any metal can be cast

▪ No flash or parting lines

Intricate design, high dimensional accuracy and

excellent surface finish are key drivers in product

development for functional metal components

across several industries.

Investment casting enables the manufacturer to

achieve these increasingly demanding requirements

for metal products for a wide variety of metals and

high-performing alloys.

APPLICATION AREAS

INVESTMENT CASTING

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Aerospace & Aviation Transportation Energy & Utilities

INVESTMENT CASTINGINDUSTRY PAIN

➢ Overall cost and lead time, especially for

prototype and short-run productions.▪ Specialized equipment and tooling cost for wax pattern

production

▪ Four to six weeks lead time for metal tooling

➢ Limitation in design freedom due to the

dependency on traditional molds for pattern

production.

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OPTIMIZATION WITH AM PATTERNS

INVESTMENT CASTING PROCESS

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Tra

dit

ional

Addit

ive

Manufa

cturi

ng

~30 days1 day 2-3 days 1-2 days 1-2 days

-30 days +<1 day+1 day

Your technology of choice for prototyping and

short-run production due to

Saving time and cost on metal tooling➢ Using 3D Printed patterns which can directly be casted,

reducing 4-6 weeks in the process

➢ Saving on warehouse storage cost of the metal tools

Freedom of design ➢ More complex designs possible

➢ Agility to test multiple design variations

Sustainability➢ No need to produce and store metal tools for wax

patterns

➢ Lower scrap rate versus other existing AM tooling

solutions

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURINGTECHNOLOGY BENEFITS

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Somos® Element provides pattern makers the ability

to create the most accurate, complex investment

casting designs with the thinnest features possible

at quicker turnaround time enabled by its low

viscosity and high green strength.

Printed patterns with Somos® Element reduce the

initial investment of wax pattern production,

especially for prototyping and short-run

production.

Tetrashell printing software enables lightweight,

strength optimized patterns enabling efficient use

of SL pattern resin without risk of pattern

breakage.

HIGHLIGHTSPATTERN MAKER

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Somos® Element provides foundries the ability to

create the most accurate, complex investment

casting designs with the thinnest features possible

enabled by its low viscosity and high green

strength.

Whilst, after burn-out and casting, casted metal

scrap rate is reduced up to 50% because of minimal

residual ash.

Furthermore, it is the material of choice for super-

alloy castings due to the use of antimony-free

photo-initiator.

HIGHLIGHTSFOUNDRY

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“SOMOS® ELEMENT IMPROVES QUALITY 0F INVESTMENT CASTINGS AT 20% REDUCED COST AND TIME SAVINGS.”

Dave HockemeyerPeridot Inc (USA)

VISUAL, OPTICAL & MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

PRODUCT DETAILS SOMOS® ELEMENT

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THERMAL PROPERTIES

PRODUCT DETAILS SOMOS® ELEMENT

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BRIGHT SCIENCE. BRIGHTER LIVING.