The present disclosure generally relates to partial integrated core-shell investment casting molds that can be assembled into complete molds. Each section of the partial mold may contain both a portion of a core and portion of a shell. Each section can then be assembled into a mold for casting of a metal part. The partial integrated core-shell investment casting molds and the complete molds may be provided with filament structures corresponding to cooling hole patterns on the surface of the turbine blade or the stator vane, which provides a leaching pathway for the core portion after metal casting. The invention also relates to core filaments that can be used to supplement the leaching pathway, for example in a core tip portion of the mold.

An investment casting process for manufacturing a cast component is provided. The investment casting process includes forming a core, casting the cast component about the core such that a core positioning feature provides a location of an anticipated pilot hole in the cast component, removing the core from the cast component once the casting is completed, locating, forming and sizing a pilot hole to form a resized pilot hole that can receive a sealing plug and installing the sealing plug into the resized pilot hole.

An investment casting process for manufacturing a cast component is provided. The investment casting process includes forming a core, casting the cast component about the core such that a core positioning feature provides a location of an anticipated pilot hole in the cast component, removing the core from the cast component once the casting is completed, locating, forming and sizing a pilot hole to form a resized pilot hole that can receive a sealing plug and installing the sealing plug into the resized pilot hole.

A method is provided for casting a component. Accordingly, a casting core is provided within a cavity of a component mold. The casting core defines an inner component shape and includes a core wall. The core wall defines a core outer surface and a core inner surface disposed opposite the core outer surface. The core inner surface defines a core cavity. The casting core also includes a removal facilitation feature. The component is cast within the cavity of the component mold with the casting core positioned therein. The cast component is removed from the component mold and the casting core is removed from the cast component.

An investment casting process for manufacturing a cast component is provided. The investment casting process includes forming a core, casting the cast component about the core such that a core positioning feature provides a location of an anticipated pilot hole in the cast component, removing the core from the cast component once the casting is completed, locating, forming and sizing a pilot hole to form a resized pilot hole that can receive a sealing plug and installing the sealing plug into the resized pilot hole.

An investment casting process for manufacturing a cast component is provided. The investment casting process includes forming a core, casting the cast component about the core such that a core positioning feature provides a location of an anticipated pilot hole in the cast component, removing the core from the cast component once the casting is completed, locating, forming and sizing a pilot hole to form a resized pilot hole that can receive a sealing plug and installing the sealing plug into the resized pilot hole.

A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cavity, a second cavity and a rib between the first cavity and the second cavity, the rib including a first rib surface that is substantially flat and a second rib surface that is tapered.

A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cavity, a second cavity and a rib between the first cavity and the second cavity, the rib including a first rib surface that is substantially flat and a second rib surface that is tapered.

A method of forming a component by investment casting includes disposing at least a portion of an investment casting pin within a core. The investment casting pin includes a ceramic base pin having a perimeter and a length extending perpendicular to the perimeter and a sacrificial coating disposed about the perimeter of the ceramic base pin along at least a portion of the length of the ceramic base pin. A metal casting is formed around the core. The core and the sacrificial coating are leached with a leaching solution and the investment casting pin is removed from the metal casting.

A method of forming a component by investment casting includes disposing at least a portion of an investment casting pin within a core. The investment casting pin includes a ceramic base pin having a perimeter and a length extending perpendicular to the perimeter and a sacrificial coating disposed about the perimeter of the ceramic base pin along at least a portion of the length of the ceramic base pin. A metal casting is formed around the core. The core and the sacrificial coating are leached with a leaching solution and the investment casting pin is removed from the metal casting.