Why investment casting
Brackets, fittings, handles and hardware of every kind: wherever a part is complex to machine or weld, a casting is worth evaluating.
Components
- Hardware
- Hinges
- Locks
- Tool parts
- Architectural fittings
- Prototypes and spare parts
Materials
The full range from carbon steel to stainless steel and copper alloys.
Frequently used alloys
| Grade | Type | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| WCB | Weldable carbon steel for pressure parts A216 WCB | ASTM A216/A216M |
| 4140 | Cr-Mo quench-and-temper steel 42CrMo4 type | SAE J404 / AISI 4140 (cast: ASTM A732 Gr. 8Q) |
| CF8 | Austenitic stainless steel, cast 304 type 304 type | ASTM A351/A351M, A743/A743M |
| CF8M | Mo-bearing austenitic stainless steel, cast 316 type 316 type | ASTM A351/A351M, A743/A743M |
Typical requirements
Deciding whether the part is a casting at all: a short process comparison usually answers this before any tooling is ordered.
- Cost comparison on the finished part
- Sensible general tolerances
- Machining only where needed
Related engineering topics
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.
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.
Capabilities
The LOSTWAX TR scope of supply: investment castings with engineering review, CNC machining, heat treatment, surface finishing, inspection and supply-chain coordination through Modulus Metal.