Investment Casting Process
Investment casting is a process where wax patterns (assembled into trees) are used to form ceramic shells. The shells are filled with molten alloy material, and solidified to form a casting. The resulting cast component is then machined to meet the customer's requirements.
Investment casting is typically utilized when large quantities of the same part are needed or the as-cast finish will suffice on surfaces.
Cost Reductions
- Difficult-to-machine alloys may be investment cast, reducing required finish-machining.
- Close dimensional tolerances (± .005 per inch) are possible.
- Many parts can be used "as cast" with no additional machining due to superior dimension control, tight tolerances and surface texture.
- In-house machining services allows us to offer fully machined, complete parts, from a single source eliminating time and expense of passing material between suppliers.
- An assembly of several components can often be converted into a single casting, saving both time and money.
Design Flexibility
- Nearly any shape can be made by investment casting.
- Complex assemblies can be cast as a unit.
- Holes, slots, bevels, serrations, thin sections, knife edges and other configurations can be produced.
- Cast components can be further refined by our in-house machining service.