The conventional fabrication methods for microfluidic devices require cleanroom processes that are costly and time-consuming. We present a novel, facile, and low-cost method for rapid fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds and devices. The method consists of three main fabrication steps: female mold (FM), male mold (MM), and chip fabrication. We use a CO2 laser cutter to pattern a thi...

Continuous casting is used to mass produce basic metals into long, semi-finished shapes with constant cross section, which are later processed into over 800 million tons of steel, 20 million tons of aluminum, and 1 million tons of copper, nickel, and other metal products in the world each year. Cross-sections can be rectangular, for later rolling into plate or sheet, square for long products, c...

This chapter first describes the robotic CAM system proposed from the viewpoint of robotic servo controller for an industrial robot RV1A. Then, a reverse post-processor is proposed for the robotic CAM system to online generate the original CL data from the NC data post-processed for a five-axis NC machine tool with a tilting head. Next, an application of the industrial robot with incorporated t...

The effect of 12 different experimental compositions of phosphate-bonded SiO2 investments was examined on cast pure titanium. The mold temperature was 600 degrees C and the casting was conducted with an argon-arc melting and pressure casting machine. Castability was evaluated by the volume of casting porosity, which was calculated from the volume of wax pattern (15 mm x 15 mm x 1.5 mm), the wei...

Mathematical models have been developed and applied to investigate the composition distributions that arise during steel grade changes in the continuous slab casting processes. Three-dimensional turbulent flow and transient mixing phenomena in the mold and the strand were calculated under conditions corresponding to a sudden change in grade. The composition distribution in the final slab was th...

Abstract A funnel-type mold is commonly used to provide necessary clearance for the submerged entry nozzle in thin slab casting (TSC). The partially solidified shell subjected mechanical deformations, which can lead defects formation and, as a results, breakout. Traditionally, results of flow simulation, performed by finite volume method (FVM), are fed external package element analysis stress a...

Electromagnetic stirring is widely used in continuous casting of steel as a means to improve homogeneity of cast slabs. Industrial experience has shown that stirrer design and operating conditions have a strong influence on the metallurgical quality of the cast slab. This paper examines the effect of the stirrer current and field frequency on the flow in horizontal EMS of steel slabs. A threedi...

This study evaluated the casting accuracy of crown margins and metal-ceramic shear bond strength (SBS) of pure titanium injected into casting molds made using 2 investment types at 3 mold temperatures. Sixty crown (30-degree beveled finish line) and 60 cylinder (5mm diameter × 8mm high) patterns were divided into 6 groups (n=10), and cast using a phosphate-bonded investment (P) and a magnesium ...

The effects of gating systems, number of runner, and their locations, in the Lost Foam Casting (LFC) of Aluminum alloy (A.413.0) were investigated. Six different gating systems, with one or two running systems were designed. X-ray radiography and the three axis-bending tests have been employed to evaluate the casting soundness and quality. The results revealed that gating systems have a major e...