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.

A casting ceramic core includes a ceramic structure having at least one through hole and a plurality of features extending from a main ceramic body. The ceramic body defines a negative space for a casting and a plurality of aligned fibers extending a substantial length of at least one casting feature.

A method of forming a component includes the steps of placing a core into a mold and pouring a component material around the core. The component material is allowed to solidify. The core is then removed from within the material, leaving a component having at least a first and a second cavity formed by the core. A first filler material is moved into the first cavity, and a second filler material is moved into the second cavity. The component is inspected for the presence of an apparent residual core within the first cavity and the second cavity. The location is identified of the apparent residual core from the core based upon an identification of whether the location of the apparent residual core is in the first or second filler materials. A method of inspecting a component formed by investment casting is also disclosed.

An apparatus relating to engineering the geometry for a ball-chute support feature in an investment casting core. The investment casting core is for an airfoil region having at least one serpentine feature and at least one inlet feature coupled to the at least one serpentine feature by a ball-chute support feature. The investment casting core is leached out to form cooling passages in the airfoil.

A method of removing a core of a cast component includes providing a casting that includes a silica based ceramic core in a temperature controlled closed volume; cycling temperature between a first temperature and a second temperature within the temperature controlled closed volume that repeatedly subjects the silica based ceramic core to a beta-to-alpha cristobalite transition that induces microfractures in the silica based ceramic core; and after the cycling temperature, chemically dissolving the silica based ceramic core from the casting.

A method of forming a cast component and a method of forming a casting mold is generally provided. The method is performed by plugging or covering an opening in a ceramic core-shell mold. The ceramic core-shell mold includes at least a first core portion, a first shell portion, and at least one first cavity between the core portion and the first shell portion. The core-shell mold may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process. At least a portion of the ceramic core-shell mold and the plug or cover is coated with a second ceramic material.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for forming cast parts having cast in features aligned with a casting core. The part is cast around a casting core within a casting shell. The casting core has a first feature that creates a corresponding second feature of the cast part. The casting core includes a third alignment feature that creates a corresponding fourth feature of the cast part spaced apart from the second feature of the cast part. A machining tool is aligned with the second feature of the cast part based on the fourth feature of the cast part. The machining tools machines the cast part to create the at least one passageway aligned with the second feature.

The present disclosure generally relates to integrated core-shell investment casting molds that provide tongue or groove structures corresponding, respectively, to groove or tongue structures in the surface of the turbine blade or stator vane, including in locations that are otherwise inaccessible. The groove and tongue structures also provide a pathway to restrict cooling flow between turbine blades to the flowpath.

A method for producing a piston of an internal combustion engine, with a cooling duct, may include producing a piston blank with a cooling duct, closing an inlet and an outlet of the cooling duct by at least one closure element, machine-finishing the piston blank, and removing the at least one closure element.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for forming cast parts having cast in features aligned with a casting core. The part is cast around a casting core within a casting shell. The casting core has a first feature that creates a corresponding second feature of the cast part. The casting core includes a third alignment feature that creates a corresponding fourth feature of the cast part spaced apart from the second feature of the cast part. A machining tool is aligned with the second feature of the cast part based on the fourth feature of the cast part. The machining tool machines the cast part to create the at least one passageway aligned with the second feature.