Research of Foam Pattern Processing for Lost Foam Casting

In the whole process of the LFC (or evaporative pattern casting, EPC), the quality of the foam pattern play a decisive role to the final casting quality. The present processing methods for the foam pattern are discussed, including foaming molding, manual cutting, and CNC machining, rapid prototyping, also the advantages and disadvantages of these processing methods are analyzed. As CNC machining become the main trend for foam pattern processing, some CNC machine oriented tools are summarized, including the hot wire foam cutter, the hot knife foam cutter, and the modified tools based on the traditional tools.