Toggle View: Production Process | Prototype Process
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Wax Injection |
Pattern Removal |
Wax Assembly |
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| The first step in the investment casting process is to produce a wax replica of the desired part. This is accomplished by injecting wax or plastic into a die cavity | After injection, the wax replica is removed from the injection tool. Parts are inspected for tolerance and then cleaned for assembly | Replicas are “wax welded” to a central sprue or cluster to facilitate pouring. Many replicas are attached to sprues for increased efficiency |
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Shell Building |
De-Waxing |
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| The assembled prue is then dipped or “invested” in into a ceramic slurry. After draining, the sprue is then coated or “stuccoed” with a fine ceramic sand. This process is repeated several times using progressively coarser grades of ceramic material to “build” sufficient “shell” strength. | The shell built sprue is then de-waxed by rapidly heating in a furnace or autoclave leaving behind the perfect shell cavity. | |
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Preheating Shell |
Pouring |
Part Finishing |
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| The shells are then fired at 1600° to 2000°. This cures the shells interior into smooth, hard and strong ceramic material. | The hot sprues are then removed from the furnace and poured immediately. The poured shells are then set aside to cool. | When cool the shell material is stripped away from the sprue. Parts are then cut from the sprue |
