Precision casting from jiachuancasting's blog

What is Precision casting?

Investment casting, also known as investment casting, is a lost wax casting process widely used to produce ferrous and non-ferrous metal parts. Unlike other casting processes, precision casting produces net shape parts with excellent surface finish and dimensional accuracy. This manufacturing process is ideal for applications with relatively low volumes (100 to 10,000 pieces) or rapidly changing product designs.

Through precision casting, we can cast nearly 200 alloys. These metals range from ferrous metals (stainless steel, tool steel, carbon steel and ductile iron) to non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper and brass). When casting in vacuum, super alloys can also be used. The only process that matches the breadth of this material is machining, but it cannot produce the complex geometries that precision casting can provide.

Because precision casting uses consumable molds and ceramic housings, it is ideal for complex and detailed part designs. The process makes complex parts that are difficult, if not impossible, to machine, forge or cast. Examples include internal passages and ports in valve bodies, curved vanes in impellers, and internal cooling passages in turbine blades. A key obstacle to prototyping and short-run production is injection mold time and cost. Every precision casting requires a wax pattern, which is injection molded. As design complexity increases, tools often become too expensive and time-consuming to make prototyping and low-volume production practical.

The benefits of precision casting

Precision casting and sand casting

Sand casting is a casting process in which a casting cavity is formed by sand, and the sand shell produces a rough shape. Usually the tolerance of sand casting is CT8-CT9, and the surface finish is around Ra250. Therefore, for sand cast products, rough surfaces may require more machining operations than investment castings.

Precision casting creates the desired shape with a ceramic shell and can produce a product with a better surface finish. We can meet tight tolerances CT5-6 as precisely as possible, reducing net shape and possibly avoiding further processing.

Precision Casting and Machining

For some products with simple shapes and simple shapes, we can choose precision casting or machining. Machining is the process of machining a part directly from bar to final size. This will cause a lot of waste of raw materials, which will increase the production cost. In addition, if the quantity is large, single-piece production increases the production time, thus delaying the delivery time.

Precision casting makes the product expensive for further processing. CFS Foundry has both a foundry and a machine shop. We can provide machined precision castings at the best price, while allowing our customers to receive a product that performs well, ready to use.

Precision casting and precision forging

Precision forging is a metal forming process in which hot or cold metal bars are pressed directly into shape. In order to withstand high pressure, there are high requirements on the material of the forging die. The commonly used material for forging dies is tool die, and its cost is quite high. The high cost of tooling makes the precision forging process less competitive than precision casting. Precision forging also has regional control over the shape of the product.

In contrast, precision casting requires less mold cost and has no restrictions on the size of the product. This makes our company available for all metal products.

Precision Casting and Metal Fabrication

Metal fabrication is the process of cutting and bending sheet metal into different shapes and thicknesses and welding them together to form a product. This will cost more labor costs and production time.

Precision casting can greatly reduce production time by connecting multiple wax patterns to a gate or system.