submitted 8 months ago by to c/mop
 
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[–] 1 point 8 months ago (1 child)

Then again there is lost PLA casting, where the part itself isn't printed. I definitely don't have the materials science background to determine feasibility of using that method for parts that cannot be printed directly, but it's food for thought.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago*

    Well, there are firearms out there that use cast parts. Ruger, especially tends to use a lot of castings.

    But casting is often a finicky process and can sometimes leave unexpected and invisible voids and weak spots in the metal. It's not something you'd want to use on the pressure-bearing parts of a firearm unless A) the firearm was designed with that in mind and those parts are overbuilt to compensate for potential weaknesses, and B) you have a lot of experience with casting and you're well able to examine the parts and determine if they have hidden weaknesses (such as with x-ray analysis to detect defects). And even then, you'd better proof test it in a very safe place, hiding behind a strong barrier.

    Casting also usually leaves somewhat of a rough finish, so it usually needs finish machining done where mechanical parts need to interact with close tolerances. So casting is more of a starting point than a one-and-done manufacturing method. Casting can save you some effort when compared to starting with a solid block of metal.

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