An example of foundry technology for the production of a wide range of metal structures for further scalingin the process of developing mechanical engineering

In view of the prospects for the development of domestic mechanical engineering, the type of production of metal products and an active example of its implementation, which are recommended for scaling, are considered. The production of a wide range of metal products in different series, characteristic of the Lost Foam Casting (LFC) technology, can contribute to the creation and strengthening of industrial growth centres at the stage of mechanical engineering restoration. This type of production allows for a quick response to market needs, requires a small initial investment, and has significant potential for scaling up. The flexibility of such production lies in the rapid adjustment of the product range, its customisation to customer requirements, and its innovative potential, which is associated with the simplified introduction of new technologies, including their digitalisation. This article describes a foundry using the LFC process. Samples of its products, features, and advantages of LFC technology are presented, along with the low investment requirements for establishing such a workshop due to the possibility of manufacturing most of the necessary equipment and accessories domestically. The strength of the foundry sand mould in LFC is ensured by the application of physical principles, specifically the unique use of the gas pressure gradient in the mould walls resulting from the evaporation of a disposable foundry pattern made of foam polymer. This enables the creation of a foundry mould from dry quartz sand, which flows around pattern structures of various geometric configurations during formation with vibration compaction, as well as the multiple circulation of this sand. The prospects for the digitalisation of the LFC process, with an emphasis on 3D printing of foundry patterns, are highlighted. The influence of the main technological parameters of LFC on the quality of castings is illustrated using an Ishikawa diagram, where individual factors are marked based on the latest research and significant experience in improving the LFC process by scientists from PTIMA of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine