Why investment casting
Levers, yokes, clamps and housings replace welded or fully machined parts with a single casting, machined only on functional faces.
Components
- Levers
- Cams
- Clamps
- Nozzles
- Gear housings
- Textile and packaging machine parts
Materials
Carbon and low-alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels where applicable.
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 |
| CF8 | Austenitic stainless steel, cast 304 type 304 type | ASTM A351/A351M, A743/A743M |
Typical requirements
Replacing welded or multi-part machined assemblies with one casting; the business case depends on annual quantity and machining saved.
- Part consolidation
- Wear-resistant heat treatment
- Machined, ready to fit
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.
Finishing and heat treatment
Post-casting operations for investment castings: shell removal, cut-off, grinding, heat treatment, blasting, surface finishing, straightening and machining.