3 ms·
casting that shape would require some kind of sacrificial mold like a sand-casting process. cheaper than billet, but not by much unless you're talking big indus
by serf 4y ago
casting that shape would require some kind of sacrificial mold like a sand-casting process. cheaper than billet, but not by much unless you're talking big industry scale.
I wonder myself if it's small enough to use a laser-sintering print process to build.
- ISL 4y agoIf the two halves of a mold have some helicity, I suspect it is possible to cast such a shape. After all, the water also needs to flow through the prop, so too can the halves of a mold.
- Oxidation 4y agoEven if the geometry doesn't quite work out, it's also possible you could cast a shape that can be "unscrewed" from the mould and then machine a relatively thin layer from the outside of the cast part (relative to how much you have to machine from a billet). It'll need some level of machining anyway. Binder-jet printing of sand cores is pretty cool too.
- pifm_guy 4y agoSacrificial sand moulding is done all the time and is pretty cheap: https://youtu.be/lnHhP_kZ43k https://youtu.be/lnHhP_kZ43k
- Gordonjcp 4y agoWhy would you cast it at all, when it's a perfect shape for forging the blades and then welding or brazing them (depending on the material) to a central hub?