A Review on Micro Fabrication Methods to Produce Investment Patterns of Microcasting

Abstract

Microcasting is one of the key technologies enable the manufacture of small structures in the micrometer range or of larger parts carrying microstructures by using a metal melt which is cast into a microstructured mold. Microcasting, is generally identified with the investment casting process, which is known as the lost-wax, lost-mold technique. A main step in micro investment casting is making disposable patterns which have sufficient mechanical strength and dimensional accuracy. In this study a review on available microfabrication methods to produce such patterns has been down and possible processes have been compared in order to select the best process.

Keywords: micro investment casting, plastic pattern, micro manufacturing techniques