Thin-wall alloy part gypsum mold casting device and method based on 3D printing

Abstract

The thin-wall alloy part gypsum mold casting device based on 3D printing comprises a box body, an adjusting box used for loading a gypsum mold is arranged in the box body, and a plurality of adjusting holes are formed in the adjusting box; a plurality of adjusting pipes are arranged in the box body, one end of each adjusting pipe sequentially penetrates through an adjusting hole of the adjusting box and the gypsum mold and then is communicated with the interior of the gypsum mold, the other end of each adjusting pipe is connected with a sucking pump, and each adjusting pipe is fixedly connected with a valve; the inner wall of the adjusting box is fixedly connected with a heating wire; according to the gypsum mold adjusting device, the adjusting pipes distributed in the flowing direction of pouring liquid are arranged in the adjusting box, staged efficient discharging of gas in a gypsum mold is achieved in cooperation with an air suction pump, the defect of air holes of castings is effectively reduced, suction force to the pouring liquid in the pouring process can be provided, the casting quality is improved, and the casting quality is improved. And the flow speed of the pouring liquid is increased, and the solidification phenomenon of the pouring liquid in the flowing process is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of thin-walled alloy casting technology, specifically to a 3D-printed plaster mold casting apparatus and method for thin-walled alloy parts. Background Technology

[0002] Thin-walled alloy parts are widely used in high-end fields such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and electronic equipment due to their advantages of light weight, high strength, and compact structure. The development of 3D printing technology has made the rapid preparation of plaster molds possible; however, thin-walled alloy parts are prone to defects such as porosity, shrinkage cavities, and incomplete filling during the casting process. The main reasons are incomplete gas removal from the plaster mold, unstable filling pressure of the pouring liquid, and slow flow of the pouring liquid during casting. Existing casting equipment and methods struggle to simultaneously address issues such as gas removal and solidification during pouring liquid flow, resulting in a low yield of thin-walled alloy parts that cannot meet the precision and performance requirements of high-end fields. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a casting equipment and method that can effectively solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a 3D-printed plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A 3D-printed plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts includes a box body. Inside the box body is a regulating box for loading plaster molds, with several regulating holes. Several regulating pipes are installed inside the box body. One end of each regulating pipe passes sequentially through the regulating holes of the regulating box and the plaster mold, communicating with the interior of the plaster mold. The other end of each regulating pipe is connected to a vacuum pump, and a valve is fixedly connected to each regulating pipe. A heating wire is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the regulating box. A partition is fixedly connected inside the box body, with guide holes on the partition connecting to the gating gate of the plaster mold. The partition divides the box body into an upper cavity and a lower cavity. A pressure pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the box body.

[0005] Furthermore, there are at least two regulating pipes, with their air inlets distributed sequentially in the direction of the flow of the gypsum-shaped internal casting liquid.

[0006] Furthermore, a support plate is fixedly connected inside the box, and an adjustment box is fixedly connected to the top of the support plate, with the adjustment box located between the partition and the support plate.

[0007] Furthermore, a casting ladle is fixedly connected to the upper cavity, and a guide groove is fixedly connected to the casting ladle, with the outlet of the guide groove facing the guide hole.

[0008] Furthermore, a vacuum tube is fixedly connected to the housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the vacuum tube connects the upper cavity and the lower cavity.

[0010] Furthermore, the plaster mold is provided with risers.

[0011] A 3D-printed method for casting thin-walled alloy parts using plaster molds includes the following steps: Step S1: Pre-cut several through holes in the plaster mold, with the positions of the through holes distributed sequentially along the direction of the pouring liquid flow; Step S2: Place the plaster mold in the regulating box, fix the regulating box to the support plate in the lower cavity, and align the gate of the plaster mold in the regulating box with the guide hole; insert one end of the regulating pipe into the through hole of the plaster mold, and extend the other end of the regulating pipe through the box to the outside and connect it to the air pump. Step S3: Heat the regulating box and plaster mold using heating wire; Step S4: Hang the ladle filled with casting liquid in the upper cavity, close the box cover, and simultaneously evacuate the inner cavity of the box and the ladle through the vacuum tubes of the upper and lower cavities. After the ladle passes through the guide groove, guide hole and pouring gate, the casting liquid is poured into the plaster mold. Then stop evacuating and pressurize the box with nitrogen gas through the pressurization pipe. Step S5: Turn on the air pump on the regulating pipe in sequence according to the flow direction of the pouring liquid, and close the valve on the regulating pipe when the pouring liquid enters the regulating pipe; Step S6: Stop pouring when the pouring liquid is about to overflow the gate, close the valve on the last regulating pipe, stop injecting nitrogen into the chamber, and maintain the pressure for a period of time, at least 5 minutes. Step S7: After the pressure holding time is over, open the pressure relief pipe to release the pressure and then evacuate again for at least 30 seconds. Step S8: Open the box cover, transfer the plaster mold along with the conditioning box to the cooling area, let it cool naturally to room temperature, and then remove the plaster mold to obtain the thin-walled part.

[0012] The beneficial effects are: This invention utilizes regulating pipes distributed along the flow direction of the casting liquid within the regulating tank, combined with a vacuum pump, to achieve efficient, phased removal of gas from the gypsum mold. This effectively reduces porosity defects in the casting and provides suction to the casting liquid during pouring, increasing its flow rate and preventing solidification. The gypsum mold is preheated using heating wires, while nitrogen is injected through a pressurization pipe to further enhance the fluidity of the casting liquid and prevent incomplete pouring. A partition divides the tank into upper and lower cavities, enabling simultaneous control of vacuuming and pressurization. Combined with pressure holding and secondary vacuuming steps, this significantly improves the density of the casting. The entire device is compact, easy to operate, and features a rational casting method with precise parameters, effectively improving the yield and dimensional accuracy of thin-walled alloy parts, meeting the application needs of high-end fields. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a diagram of the internal structure of the housing of the present invention; Figure 2 For the present invention Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the image; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the regulating box of the present invention.

[0015] The reference numerals in the attached drawings are explained as follows: Box 1; Upper cavity 11; Pressurization pipe 111; Vacuum pipe 112; Lower cavity 12; Baffle 2; Flow guide hole 21; Support plate 3; Ladle 4; Flow guide groove 41; Plaster mold 5; Sprue 51; Riser 52; Adjustment box 6; Adjustment hole 61; Heating wire 62; Adjustment pipe 7. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0017] See Figures 1-3As shown, this invention provides a 3D-printed plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts. The box body 1 is made of high-temperature resistant stainless steel, with a height of 100cm and a width of 80cm. A partition 2 is horizontally fixed in the middle of the box body 1, dividing it into an upper cavity 11 and a lower cavity 12. The upper cavity 11 has a height of 40cm, and the lower cavity 12 has a height of 60cm. The guide hole 21 on the partition 2 has a diameter of 5cm, matching the size of the gating gate 51 of the plaster mold 5. A support plate 3 is fixed to the bottom of the lower cavity 12, 10cm from the bottom of the box body 1. An adjusting box 6 is fixedly connected to the top surface of the support plate 3. The adjusting box 6 is made of heat-resistant alloy, with a length of 60cm, a width of 40cm, and a height of 30cm. Multiple adjusting holes 61 are evenly distributed on the side wall of the adjusting box 6 to accommodate different plaster molds 5. The adjusting holes 61 have a diameter of 2cm. There are three adjusting pipes 7, all made of stainless steel. One end of the regulating pipe 7 is sealed to the regulating hole 61 via a sealing gasket, and the other end extends out of the housing 1 and is connected to the air pump. The valve on the regulating pipe 7 is a high-temperature resistant shut-off valve with good sealing performance. Four heating wires 62 are fixed inside the regulating housing 6 and are evenly distributed inside the housing wall. A casting ladle 4 is fixed inside the upper cavity 11 by a bracket. The guide channel 41 connected to the bottom of the casting ladle 4 is made of heat-resistant ceramic material, and the outlet of the guide channel 41 is directly opposite the guide hole 21. The top of the housing 1 The pressure tube 111 of the chamber has a diameter of 3cm and is connected to a nitrogen cylinder for injecting nitrogen into the chamber 1 for pressurization. The vacuum tube 112 fixed on the side of the chamber 1 has a diameter of 4cm and is connected to a vacuum unit. The vacuum unit can realize synchronous vacuuming of the upper chamber 11 and the lower chamber 12. The plaster mold 5 is prepared by 3D printing. The plaster mold 5 has 3 through holes, which correspond to the position of the regulating tube 7. The top of the plaster mold 5 has a riser 52 with a diameter of 3cm and a height of 5cm.

[0018] A 3D-printed method for casting thin-walled alloy parts using plaster molds includes the following steps: Step S1: Pre-cut 3 through holes on the titanium alloy special plaster mold 5 prepared by 3D printing. The through holes are evenly distributed along the flow direction of the casting liquid, and the diameter of the through holes is 1.8cm. Step S2: Place the plaster mold 5 into the regulating box 6 and fix the regulating box 6 on the support plate 3 to ensure that the gate 51 of the plaster mold 5 is precisely aligned with the guide hole 21 on the partition plate 2; insert the three regulating pipes 7 into the through hole of the plaster mold 5 respectively, and seal the regulating pipes 7 and the regulating hole 61 with a sealing gasket. Connect the other end of the regulating pipes 7 to the air pump. Step S3: Start heating wire 62 to heat the regulating box 6 and plaster mold 5 for 2 hours to remove moisture and residual gas inside plaster mold 5; Step S4: Hang the pouring ladle 4 containing the pouring liquid on the bracket inside the upper cavity 11 and close the box cover; simultaneously evacuate the upper cavity 11 and the lower cavity 12 through the vacuum tube 112. After evacuating for 10 minutes, open the pouring ladle 4, and the pouring liquid begins to be injected into the plaster mold 5 through the guide groove 41, guide hole 21, and pouring gate 51. Then, stop evacuating and inject high-purity nitrogen into the box 1 through the pressure tube 111 to improve the fluidity of the pouring liquid and avoid incomplete pouring defects. Step S5: According to the flow direction of the pouring liquid, turn on the air pump connected to the three regulating pipes 7 in sequence. The first regulating pipe 7 is turned on 10 seconds after the pouring liquid is injected. When the pouring liquid is observed to enter the regulating pipe 7, the valve of the regulating pipe 7 is turned off. The subsequent regulating pipes 7 are turned on at 15-second intervals until the third regulating pipe 7 is turned off. The regulating pipes 7, together with the air pump, can provide suction for the pouring liquid during the pouring process, increase the flow rate of the pouring liquid, prevent the pouring liquid from solidifying during the flow, and also realize the staged and efficient discharge of gas inside the gypsum mold 5, effectively reducing the porosity defects of the casting. Step S6: When the pouring liquid is about to overflow from the pouring gate 51, close the guide valve of the pouring ladle 4 to stop pouring, close the valve of the third regulating pipe 7, stop the injection of nitrogen, and maintain pressure for 8 minutes; Step S7: After the pressure holding is completed, open the pressure relief pipe to release the pressure. After the pressure is released, evacuate again through vacuum tube 112 for 40 seconds. Step S8: Open the box cover, transfer the plaster mold 5 along with the regulating box 6 to the cooling area, let it cool naturally to room temperature, and then remove the plaster mold 5 to obtain the thin-walled part.

[0019] This invention utilizes regulating pipes 7 distributed along the flow direction of the casting liquid within the regulating tank 6, in conjunction with a vacuum pump, to achieve efficient, phased discharge of gas from the plaster mold 5. This effectively reduces porosity defects in the casting and provides suction to the casting liquid during pouring, increasing its flow rate and preventing solidification. The plaster mold 5 is preheated using a heating wire 62, while nitrogen is injected through a pressure pipe 111 to further enhance the fluidity of the casting liquid and prevent incomplete pouring. A partition 2 divides the tank 1 into an upper cavity 11 and a lower cavity 12, enabling simultaneous control of vacuuming via the vacuum pipe 112 and pressurizing via the pressure pipe 111. Combined with pressure holding and secondary vacuuming steps, this significantly improves the density of the casting. The entire device is compact, easy to operate, and features a rational casting method with precise parameters, effectively improving the yield and dimensional accuracy of thin-walled alloy parts, meeting the application needs of high-end fields.

[0020] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing, characterized in that: Includes a box body, the box body is provided with an adjustment box for loading plaster, the adjustment box has a plurality of adjustment holes; The box is equipped with several regulating pipes. One end of the regulating pipe passes through the regulating hole of the regulating box and the plaster mold in sequence, and then communicates with the interior of the plaster mold. The other end of the regulating pipe is connected to an air pump, and a valve is fixedly connected to the regulating pipe. A heating wire is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the regulating box; The box body is fixedly connected to a partition, and the partition has a flow guide hole. The flow guide hole is connected to the gypsum mold gate. The partition divides the box body into an upper cavity and a lower cavity. A pressure pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the box.

2. The plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are at least two regulating pipes, and their air inlets are distributed sequentially in the direction of the flow of the gypsum-shaped internal casting liquid.

3. The plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: A support plate is fixedly connected inside the box, and an adjustment box is fixedly connected to the top of the support plate, with the adjustment box located between the partition and the support plate.

4. The plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: A casting ladle is fixedly connected to the upper cavity, and a guide groove is fixedly connected to the casting ladle. The outlet of the guide groove is directly opposite the guide hole.

5. The plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing according to claim 4, characterized in that: A vacuum tube is fixedly connected to the box.

6. The plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing according to claim 5, characterized in that: The vacuum tube connects the upper cavity and the lower cavity.

7. The plaster mold casting device for thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plaster mold has risers.

8. A method for plaster mold casting of thin-walled alloy parts based on 3D printing, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step S1: Pre-cut several through holes in the plaster mold, with the positions of the through holes distributed sequentially along the direction of the pouring liquid flow; Step S2: Place the plaster mold in the regulating box, fix the regulating box to the support plate in the lower cavity, and align the gate of the plaster mold in the regulating box with the guide hole; insert one end of the regulating pipe into the through hole of the plaster mold, and extend the other end of the regulating pipe through the box to the outside and connect it to the air pump. Step S3: Heat the regulating box and plaster mold using heating wire; Step S4: Hang the ladle filled with casting liquid in the upper cavity, close the box cover, and simultaneously evacuate the inner cavity of the box and the ladle through the vacuum tubes of the upper and lower cavities. The ladle starts to pour the casting liquid into the plaster mold through the guide groove, guide hole and pouring gate. Then stop evacuating and pressurize the box with nitrogen gas. Step S5: Turn on the air pump on the regulating pipe in sequence according to the flow direction of the pouring liquid, and close the valve on the regulating pipe when the pouring liquid enters the regulating pipe; Step S6: Stop pouring when the pouring liquid is about to overflow the gate, close the valve on the last regulating pipe, stop injecting nitrogen into the chamber, and maintain the pressure for a period of time, at least 5 minutes. Step S7: After the pressure holding time is over, open the pressure relief pipe to release the pressure and then evacuate again for at least 30 seconds. Step S8: Open the box cover, transfer the plaster mold along with the conditioning box to the cooling area, let it cool naturally to room temperature, and then remove the plaster mold to obtain the thin-walled part.

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