Evaluation of different internal structure and build orientation for multijet modeling process

Abstract

Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology has proven its capability to produce complex parts with shorter lead time. This advantage could benefit tremendously in application such as the Investment Casting (IC) process. The focus of the study is the production of sacrificial IC patterns produced using Multijet Modeling (MJM) RP technology. It includes the evaluation of dimensional accuracy and the surface roughness of part with a hollow and quasi hollow inner support patterns. Different internal structure's pattern were developed using CAD software, and the part were fabricated using MJM technique in two different build orientations. Analyses were done using Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and the surface roughness tester. Results show that part built with 90º orientation is better than part built with 0º orientation both in terms of accuracies and roughness. Different internal structure similarly affects the final part quality, though the post processing steps also have their influence, thus making it no clear different among the parts. However, it demonstrated parts with square structure produced the best dimensional accuracy and the part with hatch structure produced the best surface roughness.