investment casting
Investment casting is also called lost-wax casting. It is a precision manufacturing process that completely covers the wax pattern in a ceramic shell to form a mold. The wax is melted out, and molten metal is poured within the cavity to produce metal parts with very fine detail and high-dimensional accuracy.
Key Features:
- Process: A wax pattern is created, almost always by injection. The result is a heavy mold that is repeatedly dipped into a ceramic slurry to form an exceptionally heat-resistant shell.
- Properties Improved: Material Versatility: This process can accommodate ferrous and non-ferrous metals such as steel, aluminum, titanium, and superalloys. Minimal Post-Processing: Very near-net-shape dimension accuracy decreases the finishing work expositive processing.
- Application: Aerospace & Automotive: For high strength-to-weight ratio and high precision, turbine blades, engine parts, and some structural components are produced using investment casting.
Investment casting is very popular for all industries where precision, complexity, and high surface finish are needed. There are still many progressive developments that continuously increase the efficiency and sustainability of this casting method, such as improving wax pattern production, developing ceramic mold formulations, and optimizing metal pouring techniques.