High accuracy is being sought in the rapid manufacturing of long life metal
dies and molds by transferring from layer laminated models. Powder casting serves
as a promising rapid tooling method as it enables high density filling and thus
controls dimensional shrinkage to a considerable extent during sintering and
infutrating This study aims to study the relation between the tooling conditions
and dimensional changes of powder casting and fmd the conditions at which
dimensional changes are minimum. In the experiments performed, a golf ball
model was chosen as an exampIe of a small mold and results show that dimensional
changes can be controlled to below 0.1%, which will facilitate practical application.
By subjecting the cast powder to vibrations after adding the binder to achieve
higher density, and adding fme copper powder to a mixture of two different size
stainless steel powders for dimensional adjustments, almost zero shrinkage control
in rapid tool making was realized.Mechanical Engineerin