Investment casting offers high dimensional accuracy, typically reaching CT4-6 (compared to CT10-13 for sand casting and CT5-7 for die casting), with a maximum of CT3. Surface roughness can range from Ra0.4-3.2μm, generally reaching Ra1.6-3.2μm. This significantly reduces machining allowances and allows for zero-allowance casting.
Investment casting can produce highly complex shapes that are difficult to machine using other methods, such as impellers and hollow blades. It can cast complex parts from various alloys, particularly high-temperature alloys. It can cast parts with wall thicknesses of 0.5mm, minimum hole diameters of less than 1mm, and dimensions ranging from a few millimeters to thousands of millimeters, weighing from as little as 1g to nearly 1000kg.
Various alloy materials, such as carbon structural steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, cast iron, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, as well as casting high-temperature alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, and other precious metals, can be used in investment casting production.
The tooling for investment casting can be manufactured using a variety of materials and processes, making it suitable for mass production, small-batch production, and even single-piece production.
As a type of investment casting, plaster mold precision casting can effectively replicate complex castings, offers good surface quality (roughness grade up to Ra 1.6μm), low thermal conductivity, requires no core, and facilitates part removal. It is particularly suitable for producing large, complex, thin-walled aluminum alloy castings, with maximum dimensions up to 1000×2000mm and wall thicknesses down to 0.5mm.
