Efficacy of powder-based three-dimensional printing (3DP) technologies for rapid casting of light alloys

The aim of the present research was to compare the efficacy of two powder based 3D printing technologies for rapid casting of light alloys. The technologies of ZCast process and investment casting were employed to cast aluminium A356 alloy and zinc ZA-12 alloy. The split pattern shells were printed in ZCast501 powder and used directly as mould with outside sand support in case of ZCast process. Two commercially available powders starch-based ZP14 and plaster-based ZP100 were infiltrated with two infiltrants acrylate and wax resulting in four different material systems for making investment casting patterns. A standard method was premeditated by identifying and designing the benchmark component. The proposed concept was presented in physical form by fabricating prototypes to appraise the impact of technology used on dimensional accuracy. The dimensional accuracy was acceded by assigning tolerance grades as per UNI EN 20286-1 ISO. In addition, the working suitability of castings was analysed by comparing important mechanical properties, and further, the results were supported by radiography and microstructure analysis. The feasibility of decreasing shell wall thickness for ZCast process was also checked so as to make the process more economical and fast.