US Patent:
20150321246, Nov 12, 2015
Inventors:
- Kalamazoo MI, US
Sam N. Ramrattan - Kalamazoo MI, US
Margaret K. Joyce - Kalamazoo MI, US
Pavel Ikonomov - Portage MI, US
Assignee:
Western Michigan University Research Foundation - Kalamazoo MI
International Classification:
B22C 9/02
B22C 19/00
B22C 1/22
B22C 9/12
Abstract:
A method of creating a sand mold for rapid casting, including the steps of determining a mold shape, providing a generally uniform thickness layer of sand, curing at least a portion of the layer of sand, machining the cured portions of the layer of sand based on the desired mold shape, and repeating the layer-forming, curing and machining steps until the sand mold is complete. Another aspect includes a machine for creating the sand mold having a build envelope defined by side walls, a movable build platform and at least one movable tool assembly, the movable tool assembly having a single or plurality of tools chosen from the group consisting of a sand dispenser, a sand leveling device, a curing device, and a machining device.