Investment Casting
High-precision near-net-shape parts with excellent surface finish and complex geometry freedom.
Overview
Investment casting (lost-wax casting) uses expendable wax patterns assembled into trees, coated with ceramic slurry, and fired to form a high-precision mold. Molten metal is poured into the ceramic shell, producing parts with tight tolerances, thin walls, and refined detail that often require minimal machining.
The process is highly versatile across ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, making it ideal for complex components where dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and surface quality are critical.
Process Characteristics
- Pattern: Wax patterns assembled into trees; ceramic shell built by dipping and stuccoing.
- Alloys: Carbon & alloy steels, stainless steels, duplex, tool steels, nickel & cobalt alloys, aluminum, bronze.
- Dimensional accuracy: ISO 8062 CT4–CT6 depending on geometry and alloy.
- Surface finish: Typically Ra 1.6–3.2 μm; excellent detail and logo/marking definition.
- Wall thickness: As low as 2–3 mm (geometry-dependent); sharp fillets and fine features feasible.
- Part size: From a few grams up to several kilograms per casting (project-specific).
- Post-operations: Heat treatment, HIP (when required), CNC machining, NDT (RT/UT/DP/MP), coatings.
Main Applications
Investment casting is chosen when geometry complexity, fine detail, and stable tolerances are essential. Typical sectors include:
- Pumps, valves, and flow-control components (bodies, impellers, housings)
- Power transmission and drivetrain parts (geometrically complex brackets and yokes)
- Industrial machinery, tooling components, and precision brackets
- Energy, marine, and general engineering components requiring corrosion/heat resistance
- Hardware with aesthetic surfaces where minimal machining is desired
Key Advantages
- Near-net-shape: significant reduction of machining time and material waste
- Excellent surface finish and repeatability across medium-size series
- Freedom for complex geometries, fine logos, internal passages, and thin walls
- Broad alloy portfolio to match mechanical, corrosion, and temperature requirements
- Consistent quality with robust process control and comprehensive testing options
Need complex geometries and premium surface finish with minimal machining? Let’s engineer your investment cast part.
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