Why investment casting
Tines, points, couplings and wear parts are cast in hardenable steels, shaped for the load path and delivered heat-treated.
Components
- Tines
- Knife guards
- Coupling parts
- Hydraulic fittings
- Wear parts
Materials
Carbon and low-alloy steels, heat-treated to hardness.
Frequently used alloys
| Grade | Type | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 4140 | Cr-Mo quench-and-temper steel 42CrMo4 type | SAE J404 / AISI 4140 (cast: ASTM A732 Gr. 8Q) |
| 8620 | Ni-Cr-Mo case-hardening steel 21NiCrMo2 type | SAE J404 / AISI 8620 (cast: ASTM A732 Gr. 13Q) |
| WCB | Weldable carbon steel for pressure parts A216 WCB | ASTM A216/A216M |
| CA15 | 12 % Cr martensitic stainless steel, cast 410 type 410 type | ASTM A743/A743M, A217/A217M |
Typical requirements
Abrasive wear and impact at low part cost; heat-treatment consistency matters more than tight tolerances.
- Abrasion and impact resistance
- Robust cost per part
- Seasonal delivery planning
Related engineering topics
Process comparison
Qualitative comparison of investment casting with sand, shell mould, die, centrifugal and lost foam casting, forging, CNC machining, MIM, sheet metal, welding and additive manufacturing.
Finishing and heat treatment
Post-casting operations for investment castings: shell removal, cut-off, grinding, heat treatment, blasting, surface finishing, straightening and machining.
Design guidelines
Practical design-for-manufacture rules for investment castings: wall thickness, transitions, fillets, holes, cores, undercuts, ribs, bosses, draft, machining allowance and part consolidation.