Here is a simple video slide show to takes us through the investment casting process. The steps of investment casting outlined in this video are:
- Wax pattern mold making
- Wax pattern injection molding
- Assembly of wax patterns to form a tree
- The application of ceramic slurry and sand layers to build up the casting mold shell
- Dewaxing of the casting mold shells by heating them in a steam autoclave
- A high temperature burnout of the remaining wax along with curing of the casting mold shell
- Firing the casting mold shells to heat them prior to casting to eliminate thermal shock from the molten metal
- Pouring of the molten metal into the casting mold shells
- Initial shell removal from the casting through tapping the running system with a hammer or vibrating the casting
- Final shell removal through high pressure water jets
- Cut off of the gates and risers followed by gate grinding and further hand finishing
- Heat treatment to improve the properties of the alloy
- Sand or bead blast finishing
- Fluorescent penetrate and X-ray inspection of the casting
- Tensile testing of the material using test bars cast with the parts
- Spectrometer testing of the chemistry of the cast material
- Dimensional inspection
- Secondary machining of the casting if required by the customer
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