Investment-cast parts have precise tolerances, need little or no postforming and finishing, and generate almost no waste material. Using investment casting, a shaft support bracket that was once made using welding and several drilling operations is now made in a single operation. The change saves over $100,000/yr for the company. Investment casting offers several advantages over other production methods. But to make full use of the technology, designers must be aware of it limitations. Here are several tips for getting the most out of investment casting. Investment casting can probably produce a greater array of shapes than any other method of making parts. In many cases, shape complexity is almost not a factor in the cost of a part. If inserts such as ceramic cores or soluble waxes are avoided, then shape complexity becomes an expense only at the tool stage, and this is a one-time cost in the process. Many internal passages, through holes, concentric cylinders, and curved and tapered holes are as simple to cast as external forms such as bosses, flanges, or shoulders. And no draft angle has to be factored in because wax shrinkage makes it easy to remove injection dies. Part shape does affect how parts solidify or "freeze." Ideally, freezing begins
Products & Services
Metal Casting Services
Metal casting involves the shaping of free-flowing liquid metals through the use of dies, molds or patterns.
Waxes and Wax Compounds
Waxes and wax compounds are high molecular weight organic materials similar to fats and oils, except waxes are solid at room temperature (melting point above 45 C). Waxes are used in sealers, polishes, inks, lubricants, binders and investment casting.
Ingots and Casting Stock
Ingots and casting stock are metal and alloy product forms designed for foundry work, die casting, investment casting, and other metal casting applications.
Cast Irons
Cast irons are a large group of ferrous alloys which contain a large amount of carbon and solidify with a eutectic (chemical carbide which solidifies at a lower temperature).
Product Announcements
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Casting:
Simex has multiple foundries, each focused on a material or process-centric specialty. This assures our Customers that, whether they are sourcing an iron sand casting or an aluminum die cast...
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Topics of Interest
Investment casting eliminates secondary machining in many cases. A worker at Avalon Precision Casting Co. pours molten metal into a ceramic shell mold. About 99% of metals are airmeltable and can be...
12.1 Castings
The casting of metals and alloys is an important branch of the metal-working industry. Castings allow parts to be made at a rapid pace with controlled accuracy. Castings replace parts...
12.1 CASTINGS
The casting of metals and alloys is an important branch of the metalworking industry and of prime importance to the electromechanical design engineer. Castings allow parts to be made...
Alloys of zinc and magnesium sport a wide range of physical and mechanical properties. The result is enormous flexibility in selecting die-casting materials for small, complex components. Designers...
The Investment Casting Institute, Montvale, N.J. www.investmentcasting.org" investmentcasting.org, named investmentcasting award winners at its annual technical conference and exhibition. ),...
