An Investigation into Processing Parameters for 3D-Light Cured Sand Used in Rapid Casting

Within the metal casting community, rapid casting refers to the application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques to quickly and automatically produce cores and molds. Previous rapid casting methods have relied exclusively on purely additive processes. Presently, Western Michigan University is investigating a hybrid AM method known as 3D-Light Cured Sand (LCS). This method uses a combination of additive and subtractive processes to create a desired mold or core. This process takes advantage of resin coated carbon shell sand and proof of concept experiments have proven successful. This paper serves as the first step in understanding the effects that various LCS process parameters have on this particular sand system's physical properties.