Investment Casting

Process Definition & Working Principle

Investment casting, globally referred to as Lost Wax Casting, is a high-precision, near-net-shape manufacturing process used to produce complex metallic components with excellent dimensional tolerances and superior surface finishes. The process relies on a single-use (sacrificial) pattern, typically made of a formulated wax, around which a multi-layered refractory ceramic shell is built. Upon melting and removing the wax pattern (hence "lost wax"), the hollow ceramic shell is fired and filled with molten metal.

Physico-Chemical Phases of the Process

The technological sequence is divided into seven distinct phases:

Kinematics, Axes, & Machine Configuration

The investment casting workflow requires a distributed machinery setup to automate wax pattern molding, shell construction, and metal melting. Unlike die casting, the kinematic operations are decoupled across several dedicated units:

Wax Injection Presses

Hydraulic machines engineered to regulate wax temperature in liquid or paste form within $\pm 0.5^{\circ }\text{C}$ to maintain viscosity limits.