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Investment Castings

Investment Castings

What is an Investment Casting?

Investment casting refers to the ceramics formed around the wax patterns to create a casing for molten metal to be poured. Once the wax patterns are created, they are melted onto a gate system, dipped into slurry and sand to form a layered casing, and then replaced with melted metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, brass, bronze, and much more. Below are some short videos with some of the steps in the investment casting process.

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wax pattern injection - investment casting process

How are Investment Castings Made?

Developing investment castings involves creating an original wax pattern, coating the image with plaster and building of successive layers until a strong shell envelopes the model. After melting out the wax, molten steel, stainless steel or bronze will be poured into the mold, creating a perfect duplicate of the original wax pattern. Compared to machining apart, investment casting can economically offer undercuts, high definition, complex detail and a smooth surface finish.

Most often, investment casting is the only way a part can be economically manufactured.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Investment castings are used in a wide range of industries, including firearms, food service, gas and oil, as well as the energy industry. While these are some of the industries served through investment casting, they are not the only ones served by Milwaukee Precision Casting. Investment castings can be used for almost anything where steel, aluminum, brass, and many other materials are required.

Milwaukee Precision Casting can offer a wide range of finishing work including: Machining, Heat Treating, Non-Destructive Testing, Polishing, Passivation/Electropolishing, Deburring/Ball Burnishing, Laser Etching, Coating, Packaging, and more depending on the needs of any part. Milwaukee Precision Casting has close relationships with many local vendors to allow for the best possible part at the lowest possible price.

The difference in strength between castings and other methods of metal working, while there, are negligible. Investment castings have been used by the military, aerospace, and medical fields for many years, and are still used in those industries today. Through testing and thorough inspection, we can ensure that no part that leaves Milwaukee Precision Casting would not meet the most rigorous of requirements.

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The Investment Casting Process

Click on any of the steps below for detailed information on the investment casting process.

To download the complete casting process guide, please click here.

1

Cast Wax Pattern

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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2

Assembly

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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3

Shell Building

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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4

Dewaxing

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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5

Pouring & Solidification

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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6

Sawing / Cutting

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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7

Customization

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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8

Finish

The first step of the investment casting process is to create a wax pattern of casting part, using high temperature wax injected into an aluminum molding tool.

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What Are Lost Wax Investment Castings?

By injecting wax into a permanent-molding die to form wax patterns, investment casting are the solution for many complex parts that are required in large quantities. We produce investment castings in lost wax patterns from a few grams up to 40 pounds, and can economically produce low quantities with manual tooling, or high volumes utilizing multi-cavity automatic molding tools.

The origin of the lost wax investment casting, also known as the lost wax process, stretches back in time to 1100/1700 BC. Works were created from hand sculptured wax patterns with delicate detail. During the post – WWII period, this process evolved and expanded into virtually every industry and marketplace, as seen today.

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Lost Wax Investment Casting

Investment Casting Material Properties

Search properties by adjusting the filters below.

Hardness
Least
Most
1010 Annealed RB60 Carbon Steel
1030 Annealed RB75 Carbon Steel
1020 Annealed RB75 Carbon Steel
Al Bronze C95400 as cast RB85 Aluminum-Bronze
Inconel 600 as cast RB90 Inconel
Al Bronze C95400 hardened and tempered RB91-RB96 Aluminum-Bronze
Al bronze C95500 hardened and tempered RB91-RB96 Aluminum-Bronze
Al bronze C95500 as cast RB98 Aluminum-Bronze
1045 Annealed RB100 Carbon Steel
Inconel 625 annealed RC20 Inconel
1060 Annealed RC25 Carbon Steel
CD4MCu Annealed RC26 Stainless Steel
CD4MCU Hardened RC28-RC32 Stainless Steel
Cobalt 36 as cast RC36 Cobalt
15-5 Hardened RC26-RC38 Stainless Steel
431 Hardened RC20-RC40 Stainless Steel
17-4 Hardened RC34-RC44 Stainless Steel
8620 Hardened RC20-RC45 Stainless Steel
410 Hardened RB94-RC45 Stainless Steel
416 Hardened RB94-RC45 Stainless Steel
Cobalt 6 as cast RC45 Carbon Nickel
4130 Hardened RC23-RC49 Stainless Steel
1030 Hardened RC20-RC50 Carbon Steel
8630 Hardened RC25-RC50 Steel
Cobalt 12 as cast RC50 Cobalt
420 Hardened RC30-RC52 Stainless Steel
H-13 Hardened RC45-RC53 Tool Steel
4340 Hardened RC20-RC55 Steel
440A Hardened RC35-RC56 Stainless Steel
1045 Hardened RC25-RC57 Carbon Steel
4140 Hardened RC29-RC57 Steel
S-7 Hardened RC35-RC57 Tool Steel
D-2 Hardened RC50-RC59 Tool Steel
S-5 Hardened RC37-RC59 Tool Steel
1060 Hardened RC30-RC60 Carbon Steel
8640 Hardened RC30-RC60 Nickel-Chromium Molybdenum
6150 Hardened RC30-RC60 Carbon-Chromium
A-2 Hardened RC47-RC60 Tool Steel
440C Hardened RC40-RC60 Stainless Steel
O-1 Hardened RC45-RC61 Tool Steel
D-7 Hardened RC50-RC63 Tool Steel
M-2 Hardened RC61-RC63 Tool Steel
Tensile Strength
Low
High
A356 Aluminum 48,000 Aluminum
1010 Annealed 60,000 Carbon Steel
1020 Annealed 70,000 Carbon Steel
1030 Annealed 75,000 Carbon Steel
302 Annelaed 75,000 Stainless Steel
303 Annealed 75,000 Stainless Steel
304 Annealed 75,000 Stainless Steel
310 Annealed 75,000 Stainless Steel
316 Annealed 75,000 Stainless Steel
Inconel 600 as cast 75,000 Inconel
Mg Bronze C86500 75,000 Manganese Bronze
347 annealed 85,000 Stainless Steel
Al Bronze C95400 as cast 85,000 Aluminum Bronze
1045 Annealed 90,000 Carbon Steel
Inconel 625 annealed 100,000 Inconel
Al bronze C95500 hardened and tempered 100,000 Aluminum Bronze
Cobalt 36 as cast 105,000 Cobalt
Al Bronze C95400 hardened and tempered 105,000 Aluminum Bronze
CD4MCu Annealed 115,000 Stainless Steel
1060 Annealed 120,000 Carbon Steel
Al bronze C95500 as cast 120,000 Aluminum Bronze
Mg Bronze C86300 120,000 Manganese Bronze
8620 Hardened 130,000 Carbon-Nickel Chromium Molybdenum
CD4MCU Hardened 145,000 Stainless Steel
1030 Hardened 150,000 Carbon Steel
431 Hardened 160,000 Stainless Steel
8630 Hardened 170,000 Steel
4130 Hardened 170,000 Stainless Steel
15-5 Hardened 170,000 Stainless Steel
1045 Hardened 180,000 Carbon Steel
17-4 Hardened 190,000 Stainless Steel
1060 Hardened 200,000 Carbon Steel
8640 Hardened 200,000 Nickel-Chromium Molybdenum
4140 Hardened 200,000 Steel
4340 Hardened 200,000 Steel
6150 Hardened 200,000 Carbon-Chromium
410 Hardened 200,000 Stainless Steel
416 Hardened 200,000 Stainless Steel
420 Hardened 225,000 Stainless Steel
Castablility
Poor
Excellent
Al Bronze C95400 as cast Aluminum-Bronze
Al Bronze C95400 hardened and tempered Aluminum-Bronze
Al bronze C95500 hardened and tempered Aluminum-Bronze
Al bronze C95500 as cast Aluminum-Bronze
Mg Bronze C86500 Manganese Bronze
Mg Bronze C86300 Manganese Bronze
1010 Annealed Carbon Steel
1020 Annealed Carbon Steel
M-2 Hardened Tool Steel
416 Hardened Stainless Steel
440A Hardened Stainless Steel
440C Hardened Stainless Steel
Inconel 600 as cast Inconel
1030 Annealed Carbon Steel
1030 Hardened Carbon Steel
1045 Annealed Carbon Steel
1045 Hardened Carbon Steel
1060 Annealed Carbon Steel
1060 Hardened Carbon Steel
8620 Hardened Carbon-Nickel
8630 Hardened Steel
8640 Hardened Nickel-Chromium Molybdenum
A-2 Hardened Tool Steel
D-2 Hardened Tool Steel
D-7 Hardened Tool Steel
O-1 Hardened Tool Steel
H-13 Hardened Tool Steel
15-5 Hardened Stainless Steel
CD4MCu Annealed Stainless Steel
CD4MCU Hardened Stainless Steel
303 Annealed Stainless Steel
310 Annealed Stainless Steel
420 Hardened Stainless Steel
431 Hardened Stainless Steel
Cobalt 6 as cast Cobalt
Cobalt 12 as cast Cobalt
Cobalt 36 as cast Cobalt
Inconel 625 annealed Inconel
Silicon Bronze C87600 Silicon Bronze
4130 Hardened Stainless Steel
4140 Hardened Steel
4340 Hardened Steel
6150 Hardened Carbon-Chromium
S-5 Hardened Tool Steel
S-7 Hardened Tool Steel
17-4 Hardened Stainless Steel
347 Annealed Stainless Steel
410 Hardened Stainless Steel
302 Annealed Stainless Steel
304 Annealed Stainless Steel
316 Annealed Stainless Steel
A356 Aluminum Aluminum
.2% Yield Strength
Low Stress
High Stress
1010 Annealed 30-35,000 Carbon Steel
1020 Annealed 30-35,000 Carbon Steel
302 annelaed 30-35,000 Stainless Steel
303 annealed 30-35,000 Stainless Steel
304 annealed 30-35,000 Stainless Steel
347 annealed 32-36,000 Stainless Steel
A356 Aluminum 28-36,000 Aluminum
Inconel 600 as cast 35-40,000 Inconel
310 annealed 30-40,000 Stainless Steel
316 annealed 30-40,000 Stainless Steel
Al Bronze C95400 as cast 30-40,000 Aluminum-Bronze
Mg Bronze C86500 35-45000 Manganese Bronze
1030 Annealed 45-50,000 Carbon Steel
Al bronze C95500 hardened and tempered 40-50,000 Aluminum-Bronze
Al Bronze C95400 hardened and tempered 45-55,000 Aluminum-Bronze
Inconel 625 annealed 40-55,000 Inconel
1045 Annealed 50-60,000 Carbon Steel
Al bronze C95500 as cast 60-70,000 Aluminum-Bronze
Cobalt 36 as cast 60-70,000 Cobalt
Mg Bronze C86300 60-70,000 Manganese Bronze
1060 Annealed 55-70,000 Carbon Steel
CD4MCu Annealed 80-90,000 Stainless Steel
431 Hardened 75-105,000 Stainless Steel
8620 Hardened 80-110,000 Carbon-Nickel Chromium Molybdenum
CD4MCU Hardened 100-120,000 Stainless Steel
4130 Hardened 100-130,000 Stainless Steel
8630 Hardened 100-130,000 Steel
15-5 Hardened 110-145,000 Stainless Steel
1030 Hardened 60-150,000 Carbon Steel
4140 Hardened 100-155,000 Steel
410 Hardened 75-160,000 Stainless Steel
416 Hardened 75-160,000 Stainless Steel
17-4 Hardened 140-160,000 Stainless Steel
1045 Hardened 90-180,000 Carbon Steel
6150 Hardened 120-180,000 Carbon-Chromium
1060 Hardened 100-180,000 Carbon Steel
4340 Hardened 100-180,000 Steel
8640 Hardened 100-180,000 Nickel-Chromium Molybdenum
420 Hardened 130-210,000 Stainless Steel
% Elongation
Least Ductile
Most Ductile
1060 Hardened 0-5% Carbon Steel
420 Hardened 0-5% Stainless Steel
Al bronze C95500 as cast 5-8% Aluminum-Bronze
Mg Bronze C86300 5-8% Manganese Bronze
416 Hardened 3-8% Stainless Steel
A356 Aluminum 3-10% Aluminum
Al bronze C95500 hardened and tempered 6-10% Aluminum-Bronze
Al Bronze C95400 hardened and tempered 6-10% Aluminum-Bronze
1045 Hardened 0-10% Carbon Steel
6150 Hardened 5-10% Carbon-Chromium
410 Hardened 5-12% Stainless Steel
15-5 Hardened 5-15% Stainless Steel
1030 Hardened 0-15% Carbon Steel
Inconel 600 as cast 10-20% Inconel
Al Bronze C95400 as cast 10-20% Aluminum-Bronze
Mg Bronze C86500 10-20% Manganese Bronze
Cobalt 36 as cast 15-20% Cobalt
1060 Annealed 12-20% Carbon Steel
431 Hardened 5-20% Stainless Steel
8620 Hardened 10-20% Carbon-Nickel Chromium Molybdenum
4130 Hardened 5-20% Stainless Steel
8630 Hardened 7-20% Steel
4140 Hardened 5-20% Steel
17-4 Hardened 6-20% Stainless Steel
4340 Hardened 5-20% Steel
8640 Hardened 5-20% Nickel-Chromium Molybdenum
1045 Annealed 20-25% Carbon Steel
CD4MCU Hardened 10-25% Stainless Steel
1030 Annealed 20-30% Carbon Steel
Inconel 625 annealed 15-30% Inconel
CD4MCu Annealed 20-30% Stainless Steel
1010 Annealed 30-35% Carbon Steel
1020 Annealed 25-40% Carbon Steel
347 annealed 30-40% Stainless Steel
303 annealed 35-45% Stainless Steel
310 annealed 35-45% Stainless Steel
304 annealed 35-50% Stainless Steel
316 annealed 35-50% Stainless Steel
302 annelaed 35-60% Stainless Steel

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