Investment casting, also known as lost wax casting or precision casting, is a type of casting process used to create intricate metal parts with high precision and surface quality. In investment casting, a mold is first created based on the exact shape and dimensions of the part to be cast. This mold is made using a wax pattern or plastic model.
Mold Creation: First, a precise wax pattern or plastic model of the final part design is made. This pattern can be created through manual sculpting, 3D printing, or other methods.
Coating: The wax pattern is dipped into a coating material and then coated with a layer of fine sand that adheres to form a strong shell.
Curing: The coating and drying process is repeated until a sufficiently thick shell is formed to accommodate the molten metal.
Wax Melting: The entire mold is heated to melt and drain the wax pattern, leaving behind a cavity as if the wax "is lost."
Metal Melting: The selected metal material is melted to the appropriate temperature.
Pouring: The molten metal is poured into the cavity, filling the entire mold.
Cooling: The metal is allowed to cool and solidify.
Shell Removal: Once the metal has cooled and solidified, the shell is removed, revealing the cast metal part.
Finishing and Cleaning: Any remaining residues are removed, and the castings are subjected to surface treatment and finishing processes.
Investment casting is commonly used for manufacturing metal parts with complex shapes, high precision, and stringent surface quality requirements. It can produce parts of nearly any shape and size and often requires minimal post-processing, as they exhibit very high dimensional accuracy and surface quality. This process finds applications in the production of high-end components in industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and marine sectors.
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