At Impro, we are a premier manufacturer of high-quality engineered metal parts and components suitable for use in critical and demanding applications, such as those found in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries. One of our core services offered is Over the years, we have received various questions and encountered numerous misconceptions about the process. The following points aim to answer and address some of the most common ones.
False. Investment casting is suitable for both large and small parts. Some of the greatest advantages of the investment casting process are reflected in the manufacture of large castings.
False. At Impro, we use silica sol as our investment casting shell material to achieve a tighter tolerance range—CT4-CT6. However, depending on the part design and the process technology, the tolerance in the finished piece may not be as tight.
False. Investment casting accommodates a wide range of metals. In particular, aluminum, titanium, and steel alloys are well-suited for use in such process.
False. The wax patterns and ceramic molds used for investment casting are destroyed when the castings are produced and removed, respectively. As a result, new wax patterns and new ceramic molds must be created for each production run of an investment cast part. In contrast, the molds used in permanent molding casting operations are reusable, allowing industry professionals to use them for many production runs.
False. In an investment cast part design, it is not necessary to include a pattern taper. Since the process uses liquid slurry to create the part mold, the part design can feature almost any shape with a high degree of freedom regarding complex and intricate elements.
False. Both the and investment casting processes have a parting stage. In sand casting, the stage refers to the process of splitting the mold to release the finished piece and, in investment casting, it refers to the process of melting the wax to create the ceramic mold for part production. While these processes occur at different stages during their respective casting operation, the key distinction lies in the surface finish achieved.
False. When used alongside machining processes, investment casting can lower production costs. For example, an investment cast part can be produced to reasonable part tolerances and/or combine individual assembly components into a single unit. Once cast, the part can then undergo machining for only the critical areas. Through this combined production process, industry professionals can reduce the overall time and labor required to produce the part.