Method of forming a casting mold pattern
AssigneePCC Airfoils, Inc.
InventorScott Minadeo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a casting mold pattern that includes a core comprises mounting the core in a fixture such that the core is free of flexing imposed by the fixture. Material is removed from and/or added to a first and/or second mounting surface of the core. The core is then positioned in a die, and wax is conducted into the die to form the pattern. The amount of material removed from the first and/or second mounting surface is such that the core will be within a predetermined range of acceptable positions when the core is in the die with the first mounting surface engaging a first core locating surface of the die end with the second mounting surface engaging a second core locating surface of the die. The range of acceptable positions is determined relative to an ideal position of an ideal core.
Claims20
A method of forming a casting mold pattern that includes a core, the core having a length, a first end, and a second end, the second end being spaced apart from the first end by the length, the core also having a first mounting surface adjacent the first end of the core and a second mounting surface adjacent the second end of the core, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) removing material from and/or adding material to the first mounting surface and/or the second mounting surface:
- (b) positioning the core in a pattern forming die alter removing material from and/or adding material to the first mounting surface and/or the second mounting surface, the pattern forming die having a first core locating surface to support the first end of the core and a second core locating surface to support the second end of the core, the core being positioned in the pattern forming die with the first mounting surface in engagement with the first core locating surface and with the second mounting surface in engagement with the second core locating surface;
- and
- (c) conducting a flow of wax into the pattern forming die to form a casting mold pattern while the core is positioned in the pattern forming die with the first mounting surface in engagement with the first core locating surface and with the second mounting surface in engagement with the second core locating surface,
- the material being removed from and/or added to the first mounting surface and/or the second mounting surface being in an amount such that the core will be within a predetermined range of acceptable positions when the core is positioned in the pattern forming die with the first mounting surface in engagement with the first core locating surface and with the second mounting surface in engagement with the second core locating surface, the predetermined range of acceptable positions being determined relative to an ideal position in the pattern forming die of an ideal core.
A method of adjusting a core to be at least partially covered by wax to produce a casting mold pattern, the core having a length, a first end, and a second end, the second end being spaced apart from the first end by the length, the core also having a first mounting surface adjacent the first end of the core and a second mounting surface adjacent the second end of the core, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) mounting the core in a fixture such that the core is free of flexing along the length of the core Imposed by the fixture;
- and
- (b) removing material from the first mounting surface and/or the second mounting surface;
- the material being removed from the first mounting surface and/or the second mounting surface being in an amount such that the core will be within a predetermined range of acceptable positions when the core is positioned in a pattern forming die with the first mounting surface in engagement with a first core locating surface of the pattern forming die and with the second mounting surface in engagement with a second core locating surface of the pattern forming die, the predetermined range of acceptable positions being determined relative to an ideal position in the pattern forming die of an ideal core.
A fixture for adjusting a core to be at least partially covered by wax to produce a casting mold pattern, the core having a length, a first end, and a second end, the second end being spaced apart from the first end by the length, the core also having a first mounting surface adjacent the first end of the core and a second mounting surface adjacent the second end of the core, said fixture comprising:
- (a) a first gripping device configured and dimensioned to grip the core adjacent its first end;
- (b) a second gripping device configured and dimensioned to grip the core adjacent its second end, the first gripping device being spaced apart from the second gripping device and being able to rotate relative to the second gripping device;
- and
- (c) a locking device for locking the first gripping device against rotation relative to the second gripping device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.