Abstract Rapid Pattern Based Powder Sintering (RPBPS) is a new rapid tooling technique proposed by the authors. It is an integration of three techniques: rapid prototyping; lost wax casting; and powder sintering. The main advantages of the RPBPS technique compared with other tooling techniques are low investment and production cost, short production cycle and a variety of materials of products. One of the key technical problems is how to calculate and control the shrinkage during three processes in the RPBPS to improve the accuracy of products. The total linear shrinkage of the products made with the RPBPS can be controlled within 3.5% by using the selected binder type and binder ratio, suitable compacting pressure and specially designed ramp temperature program in the sintering and infiltration processes.
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