SMALL-SCALE PRODUCTION OF FOUNDRY PRODUCTS BASED ON GASIFICATION PATTERNS AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INITIAL STEP TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Procesi littâ, 2024, Vol 3 (157), 59-67

Abstract

Small-scale production of metal products is considered an important stage in the restoration of mechanical engineering, as it allows you to quickly respond to the needs of the market, requires a small initial investment with a significant potential for scaling up production. The flexibility of such production depends on the ability to quickly change the range of products, its individualization according to the needs of customers, and the innovative potential is associated with the simplified introduction of new technologies, including digitalization. At the regional level, the development of small-scale production stimulates the creation of new jobs, contributes to the growth of employ- ment in the region, economic growth and increases its investment attractiveness. The steps for the successful development of small-scale production as an important prerequisite for the recovery of the mechanical engineering industry are considered. As an example of promising small-scale pro- duction, a foundry with the Lost Foam Casting process (LFC) is described. Samples of its products, features and advantages of LFC technology, low investment requirements for the organization of such a workshop due to the possibility of manufacturing most of the equipment and accessories for it by domestic enterprises are shown. It is noted that foundry technologies have different approaches to ensuring the strength of the foundry mold. The LFC process is characterized by the unique use of a gas pressure gradient from evaporation of the model and the repeated use of molding sand without binding components. The prospects and importance of digitalization of the LFC process with an emphasis on 3D printing of foundry models are described. Schematically, the influence of the main technological parameters of LFC on the quality of castings is shown with the help of the Ishikawa diagram, on which individual factors are marked taking into account our latest research and significant experience of improving the LFC process by scientists of PTIMA of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.