Optimization of Investment Casting Parameters to Improve the Mechanical Properties by Taguchi Method

Abstract

Investment casting is the most adaptable and durable manufacturing process dating back thousands of years, with a rapidly increasing application. It is used primarily for the development of complex components near net-shape. A wax pattern in the exact replica of the cast part is used here. When the mold has been formed, the wax pattern is melted out. For this purpose this process is called lost wax process. In this present study investment casting process parameter is optimized by using Taguchi approach to improve the mechanical properties of mild steel. A set of experiments were conducted as per Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array to determine the most influential control factors. For test the performance characteristics, orthogonal range, signal to noise ratio and variance analysis were used. Data values are obtained under the constraint of different process parameters like preheat temperature, pouring temperature, preheat time to investigate their effects on the surface hardness, tensile strength of the final results. The variations in the trend of the mechanical properties were observed. It was found that high mold preheat temperature, higher pouring temperature, maximum preheat time significantly reduce the mechanical properties of the castings.