Investment casting may be defined as a form of casting where the wax or any other appropriate polymer pattern gets coated into the slurry of refractory material. As revealed by a leading investment casting manufacturer, when the material coating is hardened, then again it is dipped. The process of dipping is being repeated for a number of times in order to augment the thickness of the coating as well as its robustness. After the final coating gets hardened, the wax melts out while leaving the molten metal that gets poured into the hollow space created by that hardened wax pattern. After the metal solidifies within the said mold, metal casting is taken out by breaking the mold.

Key advantages of investment casting

The process of investment casting, also known as a wax process, is able to produce any intricate shape in about every alloy. Some major benefits of this kind of casting process are as follows:

• Tolerance – The casting process is extremely tolerant. Its tolerance capability is incomparable against any other type of casting process.

• Reliability – The process ensures reliable control along with repeatability that is well maintained from casting to casting.

• Good for the environment – Investment casting can be produced from about 9 wax patterns. And in most cases, it can be reclaimed again and reused. The wax pattern allows you to see the part in the pre-cast condition. And thus you can avoid costly revisions and lower metal scrap. Moreover, the process produces parts to the net or almost net shapes that notably eliminates or at least reduces the requirement for secondary machining. The scrap from the secondary services such as machining may be used again as well.

• Reduces tooling cost through amortization – The cost of tooling in respect of investment casting is much lower than that of the cost of any other popular casting tooling. The tooling ensures quality parts and is proved to be less expensive in the future.

• Delicate designs – While using investment casting, as said by a reputable investment casting manufacturer, the engineers can incorporate features like product IDs, product numbers, logos and letters into their components. Slots, holes, blind holes, both internal and external splines, thread profiles and gears can be further cast to lower secondary machining time as well as the total cost of the parts.

• Casting and design versatility – Investment casting can share its chemistry with more than 100 various ferrous along with non-ferrous casting alloys. And this helps it to be used in different industries since it can produce a wide range of cast as well as casting based assemblies. Lost wax casting ensures maximum design flexibility for producing complex multi-part items in most cases.

• No flash – As there is no parting line with investment casting, it won’t have any flash. However, the wax pattern may have parting lines from the main die.

• Freedom of material selection – You have full freedom in terms of selection of investment casting materials. However, cast iron, aluminum alloy as well as non-ferrous alloys are more preferred. In fact, the process is more effective with high-temperature alloys.

Investment casting is used owing to the benefits it offers. It is tolerant, reliable, and versatile in terms of casting and design and good for the planet. It ensures making delicate designs, reduces tooling cost. You can choose any material as it comes to investment casting.