A mold assembly for use in forming a component having an internal passage defined therein is provided. The component is formed from a component material. The mold assembly includes a mold that defines a mold cavity therein. The mold assembly also includes a lattice structure selectively positioned at least partially within the mold cavity. The lattice structure is formed from a first material that is at least partially absorbable by the component material in a molten state. A channel is defined through the lattice structure, and a core is positioned in the channel such that at least a portion of the core extends within the mold cavity and defines the internal passage when the component is formed in the mold assembly.

A foundry mix includes a major amount of a foundry aggregate and an effective binding amount of a binder system. The foundry binder system cures in the presence of sulfur dioxide and a free radical initiator. The binder system may include (1) 10 to 70 parts by weight of an epoxy novolac resin; (2) 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of resorcinol; (3) 20 to 70 parts by weight of a monomeric or polymeric acrylate; and (4) an effective amount of a free radical initiator. Notably, (1), (2), (3) and (4) are separate components or mixed with another of said components, provided (4) is not mixed with (3) until a foundry mix is to be created, where said parts by weight are based upon 100 parts of the binder system.

A foundry mix includes a major amount of a foundry aggregate and an effective binding amount of a binder system. The foundry binder system cures in the presence of sulfur dioxide and a free radical initiator. The binder system may include (1) 10 to 70 parts by weight of an epoxy novolac resin; (2) 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of resorcinol; (3) 20 to 70 parts by weight of a monomeric or polymeric acrylate; and (4) an effective amount of a free radical initiator. Notably, (1), (2), (3) and (4) are separate components or mixed with another of said components, provided (4) is not mixed with (3) until a foundry mix is to be created, where said parts by weight are based upon 100 parts of the binder system.

A method for manufacturing foundry tooling comprises the steps of forming a foundry tooling body in accordance with a predetermined model, and electroplating the foundry tooling body to add a metallic coating to at least a portion of the foundry tooling body to define at least one plated tooling body surface, wherein each plated tooling body surface is configured to contact a malleable blank to produce a sand mold suitable for manufacturing a casting.

A method for manufacturing foundry tooling comprises the steps of forming a foundry tooling body in accordance with a predetermined model, and electroplating the foundry tooling body to add a metallic coating to at least a portion of the foundry tooling body to define at least one plated tooling body surface, wherein each plated tooling body surface is configured to contact a malleable blank to produce a sand mold suitable for manufacturing a casting.

A cooling insert for a die, such as a distributor for a high pressure die casting assembly, and a method of manufacturing the cooling insert, is provided. The cooling insert can be formed of H13 tool steel and is manufactured using an investment casting process, for example, a process which uses a printed investment casting shell. The cooling insert includes complex cooling channels to improve cooling and reduce the duration of the casting process.

A cooling insert for a die, such as a distributor for a high pressure die casting assembly, and a method of manufacturing the cooling insert, is provided. The cooling insert can be formed of H13 tool steel and is manufactured using an investment casting process, for example, a process which uses a printed investment casting shell. The cooling insert includes complex cooling channels to improve cooling and reduce the duration of the casting process.

A hybrid method of casting a metal product is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a product design, creating a mold insert based on the product design, creating a mold base based on the product design, assembling the mold insert with the mold base to form an assembled mold, casting the metal product with the assembled mold, and post-processing the metal product. In some embodiments, creating a mold insert includes generating printing instructions for a mold insert based on the product design and printing a mold insert configured to mate with a product mold (for example, a mold produced by traditional sand molding processes) based on the printing instructions.