3D PRINTING TECHNIQUES OF CERAMIC CORES USED FOR TURBINE BLADES MANUFACTURING

The investment casting using multilayered ceramic moulds allows manufacturing of geometrically complex components of the aircraft engine, such as turbine blades, vanes and casings. Operating under harsh condition that include high pressure and temperature above 1000 degrees C cause that the above mentioned elements are usually called critical components of the jet engines. They are mostly made of nickelbased superalloys. High requirements concerning accuracy of shape and dimensions of the cores significantly limit the possibility of producing high quality injection moulds. Nowadays only a several companies in the world are able to produce them with appropriate dimensional accuracy, tolerances and internal standards characterizing the given foundry (assumed wax and metal shrinkage, ceramics working conditions, etc.). The delivery time of these moulds can reach up to even one year. Thus, this led to use of 3D printing technologies in the manufacturing processes of ceramic cores used during lostwax casting.