The paper deals with problem of optimal used automatic workplace for HPDC technology -mainly from aspects of operations sequence, efficiency of work cycle and planning of using and servicing of HPDC casting machine. Presented are possible ways to analyse automatic units for HPDC. The experimental part was focused on the rationalization of the current work cycle time for die casting of aluminium alloy. The working place was described in detail in the project. The measurements were carried out in detail with the help of charts and graphs mapped cycle of casting workplace. Other parameters and settings have been identified. The proposals for improvements were made after the first measurements and these improvements were subsequently verified. The main actions were mainly software modifications of casting center. It is for the reason that today's sophisticated workplaces have the option of a relatively wide range of modifications without any physical harm to machines themselves. It is possible to change settings or unlock some unsatisfactory parameters.

The dimensional accuracy of a final casting of Inconel 738 LC alloy is affected by many aspects. One of them is the choice of method and time of cooling the wax model for precision investment casting. The main objective of this work was to study the initial deformation of the complex shape of a rotor blades casting. Various approaches have been tested for cooling a wax pattern. When wax models are air cooled and without clamping in the jig for cooling, deviations from the ideal shape of the casting are very noticeable (up to 8 mm) and most are in extreme positions of the model. When the blade is cooled in the fixing jig in a water environment, the resulting deviations compared to those of air cooling are significantly larger, sometimes up to 10 mm. This itself does not mean that the final shape of the casting is dimensionally more accurate with the usage of wax models, which have smaller deviations from the ideal position. Another deformation occurs when the shell mould is produced around the wax pattern and further deformations emerge while cooling the blade casting. This paper demonstrates the first steps in describing the complex process of deformations occurring in Inconel alloy blades produced with investment casting technology by comparing results of thermal imagery, simulations in foundry simulation software ProCAST 2010, and measurements from a CNC scanning system using a Carl Zeiss MC 850. Conclusions are so far not groundbreaking, but it seems that deformations of the wax pattern and deformations of the castings do in some cases cancel each other by having opposite directions. Describing the whole process of deformations will help increase the precision of blade castings so that the models at the beginning and the blades in the end are the same.

The subject of the article is a comparison of new and used powder for 3D metal printing. The powder is 316L stainless steel manufactured by Renishaw. The powder used was taken from the RENISHAW AM250 printer after use. Powder manufacturer Renishaw recommends using 15-45 micron powder in their 3D metal printers. An important parameter of monitoring is the chemical composition of the metal powder and its changes during the thermal treatment during laser sintering. Another important parameter of a metal powder is its mechanical properties, which determine the flowability, consistency and uniformity of powder application. By using an inert atmosphere for sintering and storing the powder, these chemical changes can be prevented, especially against the formation of nitrides and oxides at elevated temperatures.

The paper describes existing requirements for tool materials. In the light of experience with these supplied materials, we have demonstrated their considerable influence on the life of molds for die casting technology. From this research came the evaluation methodology of these tool materials which has been used for directing the development of a new material. Based on the new regulation of the chemical composition a sample was casted and forged after that. Then was determined the process of heat treatment and from a block of this material a mold insert was produced. This insert is now being tested in production.

The production of precise castings by investment casting becomes an increasingly important manufacturing technology and many of isues of this method have to be addressed. This paper deals with evaluation of critical points on wax patterns of small blades. After the casting of certain product, the casting had a deviation from the required dimension. Investigation revealed that the effect on the resulting dimensional deviation is not only the casting process but also the wax pattern injection process itself. The engine and turbine blades are one of the most important parts in turbine or aircraft engine machinery. Casting deformation is an important feature of evaluation the quality of the turbine blade. In order to control the deformation of the turbine blade during investment casting, a novel compensation method based on reverse deformation was proposed in this study. The article investigates and evaluates critical points for deformation of the blades after their production on wax-press machine. In addition, the effect of the pre-deformation preparation and the human factor influencing effect during assembly is evaluated with the main aspect of not machining all surface of small blades.