Though metal workers have several processes to choose from, this particular method of production allows for the creation of near net shape products with great detail that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to achieve with other casting methods and secondary processes such as welding and soldering. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Ferralloy Inc.
Cleveland, OH | 440-250-1900For over 30 years, we have provided metal forged products for a wide variety of industries, including the aerospace, military, food service, medical, and automotive industries. Our customers know they can trust our forgings for quality and affordability. We will never try to make you pay more than you should for our products. Contact us by phone or email to find out more!
Rimer Enterprises, Inc.
Waterville, OH | 419-878-8156Since 1944 we have been driven to remain a cut above the competition in investment castings and everything we do. We have our own tooling shop filled with state-of-the-art testing machines. We ensure perfect results every time. It is our goal to establish lifelong relationships with our customers that benefit us both. Contact us for more info today!
Impro Industries USA, Inc.
Diamond Bar, CA | 877-484-6776At Impro, we have top-of-the-line equipment for the most demanding investment casting requirements. Our equipment and automation process controls allow us to work with different ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, and maintain consistent and repeatable tolerances as close as ± 0.1 mm. Our investment castings are dimensionally and geometrically complex and produced to net shape, minimizing the need for secondary machining. Contact us today to learn more!
Lodestar Quality LLC
Lafayette, IN | 765-463-7455Founded in 2011, Lodestar Quality LLC is a knowledge-driven custom manufacturing solutions provider that provides manufacturers of products a full range of services from innovative design and engineering, to sourcing and production using best in class quality control methods in a cost efficient manner. Focus areas include fabrications, castings, machining and forging, plastic products, and mechatronics.
Aero Metals, Inc.
LaPorte, IN | 219-326-1976As one of the leading privately-owned metal investment cast foundries in the US, Aero Metals, Inc. provides complex cast metal parts to the world with precision investment castings. Since 1962, we’ve been helping customers in various industries achieve their goals by providing cast metal pre-production prototypes through fully finished part production and assembly of finished products.
Wisconsin Precision Casting Corporation
Lake Geneva, WI | 866-642-7307Wisconsin Precision Casting Corporation offers a broad range of advantages from engineering support, to alloy selection and to part size. Starting with your initial design through to your final product, Wisconsin Precision engineers will work with you to consistently exceed your requirements for service, quality, cost, and on-time delivery. Our alloy selection is one of the broadest in the industry that includes most non-ferrous and ferrous alloys. The size range for the components we make, range from of a couple ounces to 20x22x24” to fit most of your product needs.
Investment Casting Process - Rimer Enterprises, Inc.Investment casting is among the most basic techniques used and as such delivers reliable results at a reasonable cost, though it is not always the most economic of options. In short, this multi-step process involves forming a mold around a wax pattern and allowing it to harden before melting away the wax, leaving a hardened shell that can be filled with molten metal and removed once the desired form is sufficiently cooled.
Investment Casting Process - Rimer Enterprises, Inc.The process is extremely versatile and with proper knowledge of the chemical formulas and molecular composition of the materials involved, manufacturers can instill specific attributes such as durability, magnetism, or weight load while diminishing or eliminating negative characteristics. Proper mechanics also allow for castings to be as small as fractions of an inch thick or as much as 1,000 pounds in weight, though most investment casting products are 15 pounds or less. Such capabilities find investment castings in the aerospace, automotive, chemical, defense, food processing, electrical, railroad, mechanical, marine, electronic, textile, engineering and several other major industries. Though relatively straightforward, the investment casting process involves a number of detailed steps.
To begin, manufacturers must create a master die or wax pattern. Though not always made of wax, this feature gives the process its alternate names of wax casting and lost wax casting. This form is an exact replica of the part to be produced. In some cases, it is the original prototype which may be either hand carved or carved by machine. It may also be made through injection molding. It is crucial that any flaws or imperfections be removed at this time and that exact specifications are met.
The master die is then mounted on a wax rod known as a sprue using a heated metal tool. Several such patterns may be attached to one sprue forming a cluster known as a tree.
The next step is to apply what is known as the investment. This ceramic slurry must coat the entirety of the wax mold. Common techniques include dipping the sprue or tree repeatedly into the investments of decreasing fineness until the desired thickness is achieved or alternately affixing the sprue in a flask and pouring the investment in around it.
Once the investment dries and hardens, it is placed upside-down in an oven or furnace, causing the wax form to melt and run out leaving the desired mold. Additional heating ensures that all residue and moisture are gone and preheats the mold allowing the incoming molten metal to coat more evenly before cooling in the mold.
Once the metal is poured into the mold it is cooled and the hardened investment shell is removed via media blasting vibrations, hammers, or a dissolving agent to reveal the seamless final product.