Aspects of Improving the Cost-Performance Ratio for the Manufacturing of Small-Size Cast Parts

The paper analyses some of the commercially available solutions for casting small-size metallic parts and outlines possible solutions that would reduce the cost of such systems while maintaining a high performance level. high performance level. One typical application area for small-size parts is human prosthetics, so the commercial casting machines analysed here are used mainly in this application domain. The paper shows how high-cost systems added to the machines for providing protective atmospheres can be replaced by low-cost solutions with the same results in terms of part quality. Moreover, a solution is described that avoids the typical drawbacks of the currently used casting machines and improves the casting performance, without significantly increasing the cost of the casting system.