INVESTMENT CASTINGS

Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass & Alloys

CASTING SOURCE Div.- Your Solution to Global Sourcing

Global Out Sourcing of High Quality - Low Cost Castings, in Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass & Alloys

INVESTMENT CASTING PROCESS

Investment Castings can be made in most steels and alloys, using the Lost Wax process (sometimes referred to as precision casting) to produce intricate and metallurgically accurate castings with very tight tolerances. This method is used to mass produce parts with near net dimensions and a high quality "as cast finish" thereby producing a visually attractive finish and reducing machining cost.

In this process an expendable pattern is made, normally by injecting wax or plastic into a metal mold. This pattern is then coated, by either pouring or dipping, with a refractory slurry (watery paste of silica and a binder) that will set at ambient temperature to produce a mold or shell. After hardening, the mold is turned upside down and the expendable pattern (wax or plastic) is melted out of the mold. To complete this refractory mold, ceramic cores may be inserted. Investment castings can be made in almost any pourable metal or alloy.

The investment casting process cost more than the other casting methods, but the more complex the parts the more economical it is to use because of the reduced need for secondary machining. In many cases investment castings will be used "as cast". This process is normally used for parts between 1 ounce to 10 Lbs, however, heavier parts are frequently made.

The other primary methods of producing castings are Die Castings and Sand Castings.

See Comparison Chart of Casting Methods.

Out Sourcing your Investment Castings with high quality - low cost off shore suppliers can provide you with savings of 20% to 60%. That means improved margins and increased market share.

INVESTMENT CASTING PROCESS

		Shrinkage Metal shrinks as it cools. Therefore, a casting is larger when it is hot than after it cools. When making a die, the diemaker has to make the die slightly larger than the finished casting.. The amount of shrinkage depends upon the type of metal being cast, and on the whether the mold will cool quickly or slowly. For small castings, the shrinkage rate is: Iron - 1/8" per foot Steel - 1/4" per foot Aluminum - 5/32" per foot Brass - 3/16" per foot

ADVANTAGES Complex Shapes Possible Thin Wall Sections Possible High Production Rates High Dimensional Accuracy Can be Used With Most Pourable Metals and Alloys Minimum Surface Treatment Prior to Plating or Finishing Some Parts can be Used "As Cast"
ADAVANTAGES Castings Generally Limited to 10 Lbs or Less Expensive Dies for Wax Patterns Expensive Unit cost, Labor Intensive

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CASTING SOURCE DIV.

Global Out Sourcing of Castings ,Die Castings, Investment Castings & Sand Castings

Iron, Steel, Stainless Steel , Brass, Aluminum & Alloys