Investment Casting

3D-CAM has a cost-effective solution for any type of metal prototype you need

3D-CAM has a variety of ways to make the wax patterns for this process including:

CNC-Machined wax tooling
Epoxy-Aluminum tooling
SLA Quickcast method to provide the plastic patterns for the investment casting
SLS castform material to provide wax patterns for investment casting
Investment Castings are ideal for:
Quick, cost-effective metal prototypes and production parts

Material choices include:

Aluminum
Stainless steel
Bronze
Other ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Dimensional tolerances:

+/- 0.020” to +/- .040”
Post machining is necessary for
better tolerances

Turn-around:

1 to 3 Weeks after Quickcast or wax pattern availability

Finishing types:

Bead blast or textured surfaces available 125 RPM
Post machined accurate surfaces where necessary
Polish

Investment casting (also called Lost Wax Casting), is one of the oldest metal-forming techniques. The castings allow the production of components with accuracy, repeatability, versatility and integrity in a variety of metals and high-performance alloys. The process uses a wax pattern invested in a ceramic shell made with multiple dips in a ceramic slurry. When the shell dries, it is baked causing the wax to melt away. Then metal is poured into the empty shell. When the metal is solidified and cooled, the shell is broken away.