If you work in the manufacturing industry, you must know that casting processes are utilized for producing various parts and items that have complex shapes. Though there is a wide range of different types of casting, one of the most popular ones is the steel investment casting process. However, what is it and what steps does it include? Well, here is everything that you should know about the steel investment casting process:
Steel Investment Casting: Explained
One of the first things that you should know is that this type of investment casting is extremely old and it involves pouring a liquid material – in this case, steel – into a wax mold. As the wax starts to melt, the molten metal is poured into the cavity, hence, it’ll entirely replace the wax inside of it. After the steel is cooled down, it’s then removed from the mold. Why is it referred to as investment casing?
Well, according to the experts from DaWangCasting, this concept is relatively easy to understand – it’s referred to as investment casting because the mold gets invested with the liquid steel. Hence, while other casting types involve pouring the material into the mold, this one will ensure that it surrounds it with liquid steel, so, during the last step in the entire process, the mold will be completely invested.
What Are The Most Used Materials?
Besides steel, two of the most used metals are aluminum and copper, mostly because they’re cheaper than some other options. No matter what material is being used, investment casting is defined by first coating the mold with the molten metal and then filling it with the substance as well.
Are There Some Benefits?
There are several advantages that you could gain by choosing this casting process. For starters, since it incorporates coating the mold with liquid steel, it can be used for creating parts and items that have a perfect surface finish, which means that it’ll be smooth. Also, there are various materials that it supports, including brass, aluminum, stainless steel, as well as plastics, and glass. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s more Eco-friendly, especially since it creates less waster than some other options on the market.
Are There Some Drawbacks?
Before we conclude this article, there are some drawbacks that you might want to know about as well. One of these drawbacks is that this casting process is more expensive than some other options on the market. Why is it expensive? Well, the main reason is that steel is being utilized. Additionally, investment casting might not support smaller or deeper holes, which is why you must consider the design of your component or product before choosing this particular option.
Conclusion
Steel investment casting processes are utilized across various industries and manufacturing plants, mostly because it provides more benefits than some other casting options. Besides ensures that the products’ finish is perfect, it can also be utilized for a wide range of materials, including brass and aluminum. So, now that you know what this process is, you might want to start looking for a company that’ll provide you with the steel casting services you need.
