METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF CASTINGS

A method for improving the thermal treatment of castings that includes obtaining a plurality of untreated castings of a given design, capturing three dimensional surface measurements of the untreated castings to determine a baseline shape, obtaining a first support fixture having a first support profile configured to support the castings during thermal treatment, and then applying a thermal treatment protocol to a first casting while supported on the first support fixture. The method further includes capturing a three dimensional surface measurement of the first casting to determine its post-treatment shape, comparing the baseline shape with the post-treatment shape of the first casting, and identifying a dimensional distortion that is the result of inadequate support or positioning during the thermal treatment protocol. The method continues with obtaining a second support fixture with a second support profile different from the first support profile, applying the thermal treatment protocol to a second casting while supported on the second support fixture, capturing a three dimensional surface measurement of the second casting to determine its post-treatment shape, comparing the baseline shape with the post-treatment shape of the second casting, and then identifying a reduction in the dimensional distortion to verify that the dimensional distortion is at least partially due to inadequate support or positioning during the thermal treatment protocol.