Investment Casting

Name:
Investment Casting
Detailed information:
A ceramic or metal casting method originally used to make reproductions of sculptured pieces (lost wax process) and adapted to industry for manufacture of precision metal parts. It is generally known as precision investment casting. The sequence of operations is (1) a wax prototype is made in a metal mold; (2) several of these are attached to a central member, also made of wax to form a “tree”; (3) the tree is dipped and dried eight times in a ceramic glaze, thus building up a coating or “investment”; (4) the assembly is baked in an oven, thus melting out the wax, leaving a cavity which is then used as a mold for liquid metal. Great accuracy can be obtained with this method. The exact nature of the waxes and coatings is not disclosed.