Hello
I am looking for a laboratory-scale machine/set-up for producing ceramic/refractory molds for melting and casting cobalt alloys. The mold size is expected to be 250 x 250 x 300 (in millimeters). Although intended for producing a small number of prototype castings, the casting/ mold layout, including the castings themselves, will be complex, real-world products/applications.
Based on my survey, there are companies that sell 3D printers for producing molds that are based on either sand or ceramic slurry formulations. I am not so sure if any of these can match up to the excellent quality (surface roughness particularly) of the traditional investment molds, i.e. molds made by the 'lost wax' process. I wanted to check with the ASM community for recommendations for a suitable 3D printer for making refractory molds, even if the surface finish is somewhat compromised.
Best regards,
Siva