Investment casting, also known as lost-wax casting, is a metal forming process that can produce complex, high-precision metal parts. As one of the most widely used casting techniques, investment casting services have become an important manufacturing solution for many industries. This article will discuss the benefits of utilizing investment casting services and provide some tips on how to make the most out of this technology.
Wide material options with investment casting services
One of the biggest advantages of investment casting is the wide range of materials that can be used, including stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, super alloys, etc. This allows manufacturers to select the optimal material to meet the specific requirements of the part in terms of strength, corrosion resistance, temperature resistance, etc. For example, investment casting is commonly used to manufacture titanium aerospace components and cobalt-chromium dental implants that require customized shapes and high strength.
High dimensional accuracy and surface finish with investment casting services
The investment casting process can produce parts with excellent dimensional accuracy and surface finish. The typical tolerance is around ±0.003 to ±0.005 in/in. Smooth surface finishes in the range of 16 μin to 32 μin (0.4 μm to 0.8 μm) Ra can be obtained directly from the casting process without additional machining. This helps minimize secondary processing and reduces costs.
Cost-effective for small to medium production volumes
Investment casting is a cost-effective process for small to medium size production volumes, typically from 50 to 50,000 pieces. It eliminates the high costs associated with tooling in processes like die casting or injection molding. The cost per piece drops significantly with increase in order quantities as the fixed costs are spread over more parts.
Ability to produce complex geometries with investment casting
Intricate parts with complex geometries, hidden cavities and re-entrant features can be easily produced using investment casting services. Thin walls, internal passages, turbine blades with complex airfoil shapes are some example parts. These complex shapes would be difficult or impossible to achieve with other manufacturing processes like machining and forming.
Low setup costs ideal for prototypes and low volume production
The tooling involved in investment casting consists of a wax pattern and ceramic mold which are relatively inexpensive. This results in very low setup costs and short lead times. Parts can be cast in 2 to 3 weeks from the start of the process. Rapid prototyping is feasible and pre-production samples can be quickly generated. Investment casting is ideal for low volume production due to its flexibility.
In summary, the key benefits of utilizing investment casting services include wide material choices, high accuracy, good surface finish, cost-effectiveness for small to medium volumes, ability to produce complex shapes, rapid turnaround time and flexibility. Consider investment casting for critical components that require complex geometries, tight tolerances and superior material properties.