Effect of Vibrational Modes on Sand Pressure and Pattern Deformation in the EPC Process

During the EPC (expendable pattern casting) process, one of the essential requirements is to prevent pattern distortion duringsand filling and compaction. A new method which vibrates the system in a two-dimensional circular mode has been appliedto the EPC process. The molding properties of unbonded sand obtained by this new vibration mode are investigated andcompared with those in the one-dimensional vertical mode. For adequate compaction of sand. the circular vibration mode ismore effective than the vertical mode. Sand became more fluidized by the circular vibration and the particle pressure coefficientwas close to unity The particle pressure coefficient, which is defined as the ratio of horizontal to vertical sand pressure, isresponsible for the effectiveness of sand filling.