Investment Casting

This detailed explanation of the investment casting process is intended to help our customers learn about investment casting to be able to make better purchasing:

What is Investment Casting?
Investment casting/ the “lost wax” process has been in use since the construction of the first pyramid. The Egyptians and Chinese used the process in their early history to make jewellery and statues. Investment casting is used with almost any castable metal, however aluminium alloys, copper alloys, mild steel and stainless steel are the most common. It is a process capable of producing intricate shapes weighing from 3 g to about 5 kg. The cross-sectional limits are 0.6 mm to 75 mm. A standard surface finish is 1.3–4 microns. Some examples would be: aircraft structural parts, components for the automotive industry, military weaponry, jet engines, machinery components, dental appliances, jewelry and many others.

Wax Tree 
In general, an injection molded wax pattern is used for each part. The patterns are then attached to a central wax stick, called a sprue, to form a casting. This is called a wax tree which is then encased in multiple layers of ceramic material. The wax pattern is then removed from the ceramic shell mold. The mold is fired in an oven and then molten metal is poured into the cavities left by the evacuated wax pattern. Upon cooling, the resulting precision casting are cleaned to

give the desired shape.

Benefits of Investment Casting?
1. Flexibility In Designing
2. Reduce Production Time & Cost
3. Cutassembly Operations
4. Reproduce Fine Details