Aluminum Investment Castings
Aluminum is a lightweight, corrosion resistant alloy commonly used for investment cast components. At Milwaukee Precision Casting, Inc., we pour aluminum A356 for critical parts such as pump impellers & housings, covers, plates, high velocity blowers, and more.
Our precision investment casting process involves using a wax pattern to create a ceramic mold, which we pour the molten aluminum alloy into. The result is an incredibly precise and detailed aluminum alloy casting. We are proud to produce A356 aluminum investment castings with ±0.005 inch/inch linear tolerance, which is an important standard to look for in an investment casting manufacturer.
Aluminum Alloy Heat Treatments
Depending on your needs relative to strength and ductility, we have the capabilities of providing heat treatment.
- T2 (anneal)
- T4 (solution treat & naturally age)
- T5 (high-temperature forming & artificial age)
- T6 (solution treat & artificially age)
- T61* (solution treat, quench, and age)
*T61 heat treatment is for maximum strength of up to 40K PSI tensile for aluminum alloy castings.
Alloy A356 Composition
Aluminum A356 is classified as a 300-series cast aluminum alloy due to the presence of silicon and copper. This combination of elements formulates a more "fluid" alloy. In metallurgy, fluidity is the ability of an alloy to flow and fill a cavity before freezing. This is what makes A356 most suitable for investment casting. When poured, aluminum A356 can easily flow into intricate details, reducing scrap. Additionally, with silicon, A356 can handle higher temperatures without cracking.
The chemical composition of aluminum alloy A356 includes:
- 92.05% Aluminum (Al)
- 7.00% Silicon (Si)
- 0.35% Magnesium (Mg)
- 0.20% Iron (Fe)
- 0.20% Copper (Cu)
- 0.10% Manganese (Mn)
- 0.10% Zinc (Zn).
A356 Aluminum Alloy Casting
A356 is a cast aluminum alloy with impressive corrosion resistance, strength, and ductility, comparable to stainless steel, except aluminum is much lighter in weight. This makes A356 ideal for aluminum investment casting.
| Alloy | Common Usage | Applications | More Details |
A356 |
Housings, covers, plates Aluminum is weldable, heat treatable, and highly corrosion resistant. |
Precision Aluminum Investment Cast Parts
For decades, Milwaukee Precision Casting, Inc. has been producing aluminum investment castings for critical industries, such as pump & valve, oil & gas, petrochemical, medical, firearms, and more.
Aluminum is a commonly cast alloy for essential components as a lightweight alternative to stainless steel. We currently pour aluminum alloy A356, which is an alloy made of aluminum, silicon, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc.
We also offer secondary services for our investment castings, such as machining, heat treating, plating, and non-destructive testing.
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Aluminum Casting Gallery
Aluminum Casting FAQ
Aluminum investment castings are lightweight compared to other alloy types. They also have excellent stability under different environments, including high temperatures and atmospheric changes that require parts tolerant to high stress.
We cast aluminum A356, which is a comparable alloy to 6061. A356 is a strong, lightweight alloy more suitable for investment casting.
Our standard surface finish for aluminum investment castings is 100-125 rms. We also offer secondary surface finish services such as plating and electro-polishing.
Aluminum investment castings are commonly heat-treated for improved strength. Most of the time, aluminum, A356 will call for T6 heat treatment. Additionally, we can provide T2, T4, T5, and T61 depending on the needs of the casting.
Industries Served
Milwaukee Precision Casting, Inc. has provided investment casting solutions casting stainless steel, aluminum and other precision cast alloys for quality-minded companies in industries including:
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