Aristo-Cast Uses Ceramic 3D Printing For Unique Casting Patterns

CLIENT

Aristo-Cast is an award-winning investment casting source for both prototyping and production of an unlimited selection of alloys through blending the latest technology with old world craftmanship. Since 1998 they have been producing 3D printed wax patterns and are a recognized leader in applying Additive Manufacturing to the investment casting process.

CHALLENGE

Conventional investment casting requires cutting a cavity to create a pattern to build a ceramic shell. These traditional manufacturing techniques are very labor intensive and thus time consuming and costly.

Moreover, producing a casting with a very intricate internal configuration is extremely difficult, if not impossible, utilizing conventional shell building procedures.

One can’t be sure if the casting is perfect until after it is finished due to the lengthy process of coating, drying and re-coating before the cast can be poured.

This is a time consuming process and it can be prone to error.

THE SOLUTION

3D printing ceramic shells solves the problem. The smaller and more difficult the internal configuration, the bigger the advantage of the ceramic 3D printing process. Some casts would even be impossible to produce without the Admaflex 130. In addition, 3D printing shells eliminates the need of a pattern, removing a great deal of work and cost that would normally precede the shell build process.

Using 3D printed ceramics for investment casting is competing with the metal 3D printing process, but the advantage of casting is the availability of the wide selection of alloys that Aristo-Cast is able to cast. Where metal printing is still not refined to the degree of detecting micro porosity that could be detrimental to the function and integrity of the part, investment casting has existing standards that have been proven over many years.

THE PROCESS

THE RESULTS

The Admatec 130 Ceramic 3D Printer allows Aristo-Cast to eliminate the need for traditional pattern making. It enables them to reduce time, labor and cost, and they were able to cast intricate, internal details that allows them to compete with direct metal 3d printing.

“There is no competition that is capable of doing what we are doing with the Admaflex 130” – Jack Ziemba, CEO of Aristo-Cast, Inc.