Investment Casting Process

By Tony Liu | Sept. 18, 2024 | Investment Casting Process

Investment casting is a kind of precision casting technology, widely used in many industries, can produce complex and high precision parts.
This article will introduce the basic principles of investment casting, process flow, applicable materials and application areas, and compare its advantages and disadvantages with CNC machining, to help you choose the most appropriate manufacturing method.

1.What is investment casting?

Investment casting, also known as lost wax casting, is a precision casting process. It is done by making a fusible mold, then melting the mold at a high temperature, leaving a cavity, after which the molten metal is poured into the cavity, resulting in a precise metal part. Investment casting is known for its high precision, complex shapes and surface smoothness, and is particularly suitable for manufacturing parts with complex geometries.

3. What materials can be used for investment casting?

Investment casting is suitable for a wide range of metal materials. Common casting materials are listed below

In general, investment casting technology can use a variety of materials for casting, but you need to choose the right material according to the actual situation. Different materials have their own characteristics and advantages in investment casting. Therefore, in the process of selecting materials need to consider the casting size, shape, demand, manufacturing process and other factors, in order to ensure the quality and accuracy of the casting.

4. What are the fields in which investment casting is used?

Investment casting is widely used in a number of industries, especially in areas that require high precision, complex shapes and high performance requirements:

Aerospace: for manufacturing complex engine parts and structural components.
Automotive industry: for engine parts, turbocharger housings, etc.
Medical devices: for the production of surgical instruments and implants.
Energy industry: key components for gas turbines and power equipment.
Other: agricultural machinery, textile machinery, instrumentation and other industries also often use investment casting to manufacture parts.

5. The benefits of choosing investment casting.

Investment casting has the following advantages:

High precision: able to manufacture complex shapes without additional processing of parts.
Material versatility: suitable for a wide range of metal materials.
Good surface finish: reduces the need for grinding and polishing at a later stage.
Material saving: Reduced material waste due to precise size control.
Suitable for complex geometries: suitable for the manufacture of complex parts that are difficult to produce by other processes.

Choosing a reliable partner in the investment casting process is crucial, and Allied Metal is able to provide high precision, high quality investment casting services with its extensive experience and state-of-the-art equipment. Whether you have complex shaped parts or special material requirements, Allied Metal can ensure that your requirements are met, making it the ideal choice for investment casting. For more information, please contact Allied Metal for professional support.

Make Your Machined Parts With Us

The best non-standard parts manufacturer in China

6. Which is better, investment casting or CNC machining?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both investment casting and CNC machining. Investment casting is suitable for producing complex shaped parts, and is more efficient, especially in high volume production. CNC machining, on the other hand, has advantages in terms of high precision, a wide range of materials to be machined, and high requirements for surface quality.

Generally speaking, if the shape of the part is complex and the production batch is large, investment casting is more cost-effective; for high-precision, small amount of production parts, CNC machining is a better choice.

7.Summary

Investment casting is an ancient and efficient precision casting process, can produce parts with complex shapes and high precision, applicable to a variety of fields. It complements CNC machining, each applicable to different processing needs. In the choice of processing methods, enterprises should be based on the complexity of the parts, production quantities and material requirements for comprehensive consideration, so as to choose the most appropriate manufacturing methods.