Casting 101
Modern investment casting is an industrial process based off of lost-wax casting, one of the oldest known metal forming techniques.
Watch the video to learn more about our investment casting process.
Investment casting is a process in which a wax cluster is covered in a ceramic slurry. Once hardened the wax is melted out of the ceramic shell. The shell is then heated to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and molten metal is poured in. After cooling, the ceramic is then vibrated and blasted off the metal products. The products are then cut, cleaned and prepared for shipping.
As a general rule all ferrous and non-ferrous materials can be investment castings. Carbon, tool and alloy steel along with the 300, 400, 15-5ph and 17-4ph stainless steels are most commonly poured. Check our Alloy Selection Guide for details.
Investment castings can range from a fraction of an ounce to over 1,000 pounds. Most investment casting foundries only cast parts up to 20lbs. RLM can cast parts up to 250lbs.
RLM tolerance – first inch plus or minus 0.010 and .005 for every additional inch.
The ceramic shell is built around a smooth wax pattern, the finish achieved by investment casting is excellent. A 125 micro-finish is standard.
It is true that investment castings are usually more expensive than forged parts or those produced by other casting methods. Investment casting, however, makes up for this added cost by reducing the amount of machining and other secondary costs involved with other processes.
Investment castings are used widely in applications that require parts to be x-rayed and meet definite soundness criteria. The integrity of investment casting can be far superior to parts produced by other methods.
Typically, 6 weeks for commercial grade and 8 weeks for ordnance. Deliveries can be negotiated and changed for the customers with special requirements.
