What is investment casting?

Investment casting is a manufacturing process in which a wax pattern is coated with refractory ceramic material. Once the ceramic coating material dries and hardens, the wax melts and leaves an internal cavity that forms the geometry of the final product. Pour molten metal into the cavity where the wax mold is located. The metal solidifies in the ceramic cavity, cools, and the ceramic is removed from the metal casting. The result of this process is a clean to near-net precision metal part that can be used in a wide range of applications across industries.

The ancient art and science of investment casting is also known as the lost wax process. Investment casting developed over 5,500 years ago and can be traced back to ancient Egypt and China. Parts manufactured in industry through this process include dental fixtures, gears, cams, ratchets, jewelry, turbine blades, mechanical components and other parts with complex geometries.

What are the benefits of investment casting?

In the manufacture of precision metal parts, investment casting has many benefits, including:

• Versatility in mold design

• Add complex design capabilities

• Provides a smoother surface (125 RMS)

• Highly accurate, repeatable design

• Save time and cost compared to manufacturing and machining

• Produce many types of products

• Many types of metal alloys can be used