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What is investment casting?
First, an injection mold is needed to make wax patterns. Then coating the wax patterns by dipping them in refractory slurry and spraying fine sand. Usually, there 3 to 5 layers of coating are needed to make the SHELL(mold) mechanically robust enough depending on the complexity of the part. After that, the well-coated and cured wax patterns are placed into temperature controlled oven to melt the wax away from the SHELL. Then pouring molten metal, for example, steel or aluminum into the mold. After the parts are cooled down, break the mold to take the parts out.
What are the advantages of investment casting?
1. Capability to mold complex part
The mold is to be broken to take the parts out. So there is no restriction of mold release, which means it is good to make any complex features, especially with undercuts.
2. Versatility of Alloy Selection
Because the temperature of the mold can hold is high, it is suitable for various materials, for example bronze, aluminum, tool steel, stainless steel, and stellite.
3.High Surface Finish
Investment casted parts have very good smooth surfaces. It reduces the post machining and the associated time and cost.
4.Low Mold Cost
The cost of the mold is low and the lead time is short. It is a very good process for low volume high complexity parts.
A chart to compare all these processes above
Processes | Dimensional Accuracy | Surface Quality | Production Efficiency | Geometry Adaptability | Mold Cost | Part Cost |
Sand Casting | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good |
Permanent Mold Casting | Better | Better | Better | Good | Better | Better |
Investment Casting | Better | Better | Good | Better | Better | Good |
Die Casting | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best |
What is investment casting?
First, an injection mold is needed to make wax patterns. Then coating the wax patterns by dipping them in refractory slurry and spraying fine sand. Usually, there 3 to 5 layers of coating are needed to make the SHELL(mold) mechanically robust enough depending on the complexity of the part. After that, the well-coated and cured wax patterns are placed into temperature controlled oven to melt the wax away from the SHELL. Then pouring molten metal, for example, steel or aluminum into the mold. After the parts are cooled down, break the mold to take the parts out.
What are the advantages of investment casting?
1. Capability to mold complex part
The mold is to be broken to take the parts out. So there is no restriction of mold release, which means it is good to make any complex features, especially with undercuts.
2. Versatility of Alloy Selection
Because the temperature of the mold can hold is high, it is suitable for various materials, for example bronze, aluminum, tool steel, stainless steel, and stellite.
3.High Surface Finish
Investment casted parts have very good smooth surfaces. It reduces the post machining and the associated time and cost.
4.Low Mold Cost
The cost of the mold is low and the lead time is short. It is a very good process for low volume high complexity parts.
A chart to compare all these processes above
Processes | Dimensional Accuracy | Surface Quality | Production Efficiency | Geometry Adaptability | Mold Cost | Part Cost |
Sand Casting | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good |
Permanent Mold Casting | Better | Better | Better | Good | Better | Better |
Investment Casting | Better | Better | Good | Better | Better | Good |
Die Casting | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best |
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