A preliminary study of fabrication technology for dynamic compression plates using centrifugal casting process

Abstract

The high cost of health services in low-income countries has caused them to produce implants and medical devices at low cost. This research highlights a preliminary study of the design concept, mould design, and fabrication of horizontal type centrifugal casting machines for the manufacture of dynamic compression plates materials. Normally, dynamic compression plate is produced from materials such as 316L stainless steel, cobalt, and titanium alloys. In this work, aluminium-silicon alloy was used in this preliminary study. Aluminium-silicon alloy was melted at a temperature of 730 °C and poured into a mould with a rotational speed of 1500 rpm. Tensile, hardness and microstructure investigation were carried out to discern the mechanical properties of the cast product from the horizontal type centrifugal casting machine. Results showed the measured value of tensile strength is not significantly different in the two zones of cast pipe, the butt zone of fall of molten metal (specimen A) was 147 MPa, and the butt-end zone (specimen B) was 142 MPa. The hardness value for the as-cast pipe obtained from the outside, middle, and inside, was 104.0, 92.9, and 80.3 HV, respectively. Evaluation of microporosity in fractures (from tensile test) results from horizontal type centrifugal castings showed a small distribution. Meanwhile, the calculation of the contour hole processing time for DCP with eight holes is 38 minutes per implant.