Custom Investment Castings
Investment casting, in which molten metal is poured into an expendable ceramic mold, is one of the world’s oldest manufacturing processes, dating back thousands of years. The mold is formed by using a wax pattern or model—a disposable piece in the shape of the desired part.
The wax model or pattern can be used by itself to cast a single piece or attached to a wax “casting tree” (or gating system), with multiple other pieces for higher volume production. The wax model or casting tree is first dipped into a ceramic slurry, then into a ceramic powder, multiple times, until a thick coa forms around the model and/or tree. The resulting ceramic mold is then cured to achieve the required hardness that finally becomes the mold for the investment casting process.
Investment casting is often referred to as “lost-wax casting” because the original wax pattern is melted out of the mold after the ceramic has cured. The base metal being used is then poured into the remaining cavity, filling the inside shape.
Lost-Wax Investment Casting Advantages
With over 30 years of foundry casting expertise, Deeco Metals offers you the reliability and quality assurance needed for custom investment castings. As a performance-driven supplier, we utilize top-quality equipment that enables us to efficiently manufacture your large volume castings at a competitive price. In addition to investment castings, we also provide several value-added services. By decreasing supply chain issues and potential project derailment, Deeco Metals can save you time and money.
Our capabilities encompass more than just casting expertise. We employ a technical team and sales support team with extensive experience with engineering, metallurgy, and manufacturing. If you have questions regarding our investment casting process, please discuss your concerns with one of our experts.
Precision Investment Casting for Simple & Complex Shapes
While investment castings made using the lost-wax process are often produced one part at a time, most of the investment castings Deeco creates are produced in multiples for larger volume production. Investment castings with complex geometries and intricate details can be created with little worry about die wear or dimensional changes.
Other advantages of investment castings include:
- Excellent surface finish
- High dimensional accuracy
- Extremely intricate parts can be cast
- Almost any metal can be used
- No flash or parting lines
Custom Investment Casting Materials
A good investment casting foundry like Deeco Metals can produce near-net castings from nearly any metal. The most commonly used materials for investment castings are aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, magnesium alloys, cast iron, carbon steels, stainless steel, and other nickel alloys.
This process is beneficial for casting metals with high melting temperatures that cannot be molded in plaster or metal. Typical investment castings include parts with complex geometries, such as turbine blades, firearm components, marine parts, and other industrial components.
Learn More about the Investment Casting Process Here
