INVESTMENT CASTING

PRESENTED BY
M VIGNESH (16MY12)
I-YEAR ME INDUSTRIAL METALLURGY
CONTENTS
• Overview
• Introduction
• Procedure
• Advantages/Disadvantages
• Applications
• Reference
 OVERVIEW
• This technique is both one of the oldest & most advanced of the metallurgical art.
• The root of this technology, the “lost wax” method dates back to at least fourth
millennium B.C and was originated in China.
• From 5,000 years ago, when beeswax formed the pattern, today high-technology waxes
are used in molding.
• In today's world Investment Casting touches all of our lives. When we fly on an airplane,
drive an automobile, play golf, we are using investment casting.
 INTRODUCTION
• Investment casting is expandable mold metal casting process which is also known as lost
wax process because the pattern is made up of wax and is melted away when it is heated.
Wax is recovered and can be used again and again that’s why this process is called
investment casting.

• Lost Foam Casting (LFC) is modern form of investment casting, LFC is a type of
evaporative-pattern casting process that is similar to investment casting except foam is
used for the pattern instead of wax. Most Commonly used foam is polystyrene foam.

• Investment casting gives high standards of dimensional accuracy, surface finish and
design flexibility and, unlike pressure die casting, is applicable to alloys of virtually any
composition.
 PROCESS OF INVESTMENT CASTING
1.Pattern Making:
• Manufacture Wax Pattern
• Master Die desired
• Allowances(Wax ,Ceramic Coating and Metal shrinkage) added into Master Die

Fig. 1 Wax Injection

2. ASSEMBLY
• Several Wax Pattern Combine for a Single Casting
• Wax Bar( Central Sprue)
• Pouring Cup
• Wax pattern Tree

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3. SHELL BULIDING
• Dip Assembly in a Refractory Slurry
• Refractory Slurry(Fine Grained Silica, Water and Binders)
• Achieve Required Ceramic Coating

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4. DEWAX
• Allow to Harden in air
• Ceramic Mold is turned upside down and heated(90-175 ‘C)
• Wax flow out of Mold

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5. Metal Casting Pouring
• Ceramic mold further heated(550-1100 ‘C)
• To eliminate any left over wax, contaminants and drive water out
• Metal Casting poured while mold still hot

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6. Knockout and Cut Off
• Once the casting has cooled sufficiently, the mold shell is chipped away from the casting
• Gates and Runners are cut from the casting

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VIDEO CLIP
 ADVANTAGES OF INVESTMENT CASTING
• Extremely intricate parts are castable
• High dimensional control
• Good surface finish
• Wax is recovered
• No machining is required
• Net shape process
• Almost any metal can be cast
• No flash or parting lines
 DISADVANTAGES OF INVESTMENT CASTING
• The main disadvantage is the overall cost, especially for short-run productions. Some of
the reasons for the high cost include specialized equipment, costly refractories and
binders, many operations to make a mould, a lot of labor is needed and occasional minute
defects. However, the cost is still less than producing the same part by machining from
bar stock
Additionally:
• It can be difficult to cast objects requiring cores.
• This process is expensive, is usually limited to small casting, and presents some
difficulties where cores are involved.
• Holes cannot be smaller than 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) and should be no deeper than about 1.5
times the diameter.
• Investment castings require longer production cycles compared to other casting processes.
APPLICATION
• Aerospace Industry
• Turbine airfoils
• Aircraft engine
• Industrial gas turbine industries
• Medical Instruments
• Surgical implants
e.g. knee & hip joints

• Military Equipment
• Pistol grips
• Tank Control System
• Spare parts
REFERENCE
• “Principles of metal casting” book is written by Richard W Heine, Carl R loper
• “Foundary Technology” book is written by Peter Beeley
THANK YOU…!