Investment Casting

What is Investment Casting?

Investment casting (lost-wax casting) is a manufacturing process to create precise, complex, and detailed metal components. It involves creating a wax pattern of the desired part, coating it with a ceramic shell, and then melting away the wax to leave a hollow mold. Molten metal is then poured into the mold to form the final component.

The investment casting process is highly versatile and can produce intricate designs that are difficult or impossible to achieve with other casting methods.

Investment Casting Advantages

Investment casting is a highly effective manufacturing process for producing over 220 different ferrous and non ferrous detailed, high-precision metal parts. Its ability to work with a wide range of materials and create intricate designs makes it indispensable in industries that demand quality and performance. Investment casting benefits include high-precision & complex part production from:

• Nickel 
• Aluminum
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Stainless Steel
• Ductile Iron
• Steel
• Beryllium Copper

Consistent quality being a constant factor.

Differentiating Investment, Sand & Die Casting Methods

Investment, sand, and die casting methods are commonly used to create various metal parts and components, but they differ significantly in their techniques, material options, and subsequent production volumes.

Sand Casting

The level of accuracy produced with sand casting is generally lower than with other methods. The products yielded from this process, including aluminum casting with the sand casting method, also tend to have a comparatively rougher surface finish.

Die Casting

The die casting process molds materials under high pressure and is often used for non-ferrous metals and alloys such as aluminum, copper, zinc, and tin. The benefits of die casting include uniform design, high dimensional consistency, closer near-net shape and size tolerances, and less need for machining after the casting phase.

Investment Casting

Investment casting requires a greater initial financial commitment. Still, it is generally worth it in the long run since it provides highly accurate dimensional results compared to sand and die casting methods. Unlike sand and die casting, investment casting can produce parts with complex geometries and thin walls.

Find an Investment Casting Manufacturer Today

The Industrial Marketplace offers the resources, tools, and connections to help you locate investment casting companies tailored to your project requirements. Learn more about The Industrial Marketplace and how we can help you locate the investment casting manufacturer that’s right for you, or if you’re an investment casting company, submit your company profile today.