This paper presents an investigation of ceramic shell cracking during the burnout process
in investment casting with internally webbed laser stereolithography patterns. We hypothesize
that shell cracking will occur when the rupture temperature of the ceramic shell is lower than
both the glass transition temperature of the pattern material and the web· link buckling
temperature. The hypothesis is validated by our experimental observations which confirm the
numerical predictions from our fillite element analysis. This provides a basis for design of the
internal web geometry of a lithography pa.tternand evaluation ofthe burnolltprocesswithsuch a
pattern. We show the shell cracking and web link buckling temperatures to be functiollsofthe
pattern geometry (including the cross~sectional dimensions and span length of the web link) and
the shell thickness.Mechanical Engineerin
