Investment Casting

Investment Casting uses disposable ceramic moulds, into which molten metals are poured and left to solidify, forming the required component shape. Components are then released from the ceramic mould by destroying the ceramic mould, revealing the component.

The mould material and the construction of the mould is a key differentiator for any casting process, as with Sand Casting the moulds used to pour molten metal are then destroyed to reveal the cast component, this is therefore a disposable mould process. As a result of the disposable mould process, complex forms are possible as the need to withdraw or extract the component from the mould, as with Die Casting is removed.

Investment casting is not only suitable for complex componentry, but also for metals with a high processing temperature as the ceramic moulds can be highly stable over a great temperature range, offering greater tolerance control.