Optimization of Investment Casting Parameters to Improve the Mechanical Properties by Taguchi Method

Abstract

In this present study investment casting process parameter is optimized by using Taguchi approach to improve the mechanical properties of mild steel. A set of experiments were conducted as per Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array to determine the most influential control factors, which will provide better and consistent for optimization to the casting's process parameters regardless of the noise factors present. For test the performance characteristics, orthogonal range, signal to noise ratio and variance analysis were used. Data values are obtained under the constraint of different process parameters like preheat temperature, pouring temperature, preheat time to investigate their effects on the surface hardness, tensile strength of the final results. The variations in the trend of the mechanical properties were observed and it was deduced out that high mold preheat temperature, higher pouring temperature, maximum preheat time significantly reduce the mechanical properties of castings produced by Taguchi method.