Investment casting or lost wax casting is a method of precision casting complex near-net-shape details using replication of wax patterns. Investment casting or lost wax is a metal forming process that typically uses a wax pattern surrounded by a ceramic shell to make a ceramic mold. When the shell dries, the wax is melted away, leaving only the mold. Then the casting component is formed by pouring molten metal into the ceramic mold.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting
Flexibility of Design
Due to the wide array of stainless-steel grades to choose from, you'll enjoy the flexibility to configure the cast according to your need. Stainless steel lost wax casting can even take on complex shapes or contain hollow section parts. Since stainless steel lost wax casting is made through a repetitive process, multiple stainless steel castings can be produced efficiently.
Not Prone to Rust or Corrosion
If you use stainless steel in lost wax casting process, you won't have to worry about rust or corrosion. For this reason, these become the top choice for most industrial applications that subject these parts in conditions where metal has the tendency to corrode. Some customers also choose aluminum casting to produce parts that stay free from corrosion. However, these don't exhibit the same degree of strength, resistance to high pressure or durability as stainless-steel castings.
Near-Net Shape
Another advantage of using stainless steel lost wax casting is that it provides better surface finishes, tight dimensional tolerances, and greater alloy flexibility. With this, the result can achieve the near-net shape that needs less machining and other processes that may increase the cost.
Strength and Durability
Most manufacturers choose to use stainless steel lost wax casting also because of their incredible durability and strength. You can expect these stainless steel parts by lost wax casting process to function well and remain in excellent condition for a long period of time even when you use them in extreme temperatures.
Stainless Steel Investment Casting
316L stainless steel is reduced carbon content based on 316 stainless steel. It is ultra-low carbon steel. It has good corrosion resistance to various organic acids, inorganic acids, alkali and salt, and has good corrosion resistance to inter-crystal corrosion.The welding performance is good, suitable for multi-layer welding, no heat treatment after welding, and no tendency of knife port corrosion after welding.
The SS304 is a common stainless steel material, also called 18-8 stainless steel with high toughness and high temperature resistant 800℃ in the industry, widely used in the industrial and furniture decoration industry and food and medical industry.
Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting
Stainless steel 316 has corrosion resistance better than 304 stainless steel and has good corrosion resistance in pulp and paper production.And the 316 stainless steel is also resistant to the erosion of the marine and corrosive industrial atmosphere.In intermittent use under 1600 degrees and in continuous use under 1700 degrees, the 316 stainless steel has good oxidation resistance.
Alloy Steel Investment Casting
Investment casting is a common casting scheme. The types of alloys that can be produced by investment casting are carbon steel, alloy steel, heat-resistant alloy, stainless steel, precision alloy, permanent magnet alloy, bearing alloy, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy and ductile iron. The investment casting process is complex and difficult to control, and the materials used and consumed are expensive, so it is suitable for the production of small parts with complex shape, high precision requirements, or difficult to carry out other processing.
Lost Wax Precision Casting Parts
These Lost Wax Precision Casting Parts are made of 420 stainless steel. 420 stainless steel is a martensitic stainless steel, which has a certain degree of wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and has a high hardness.
Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts
The raw material of Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts is alloy 431. 431 is a martensitic stainless steel manufactured according to American ASTM standards, with good strength and toughness. It has good corrosion resistance to aqueous solutions of oxidizing acid, most organic acids and organic salts.
Stainless Steel Investment Casting Parts
The raw material of these Stainless Steel Investment Casting Parts is 17-4PH stainless steel. 17-4PH is a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel consisting of copper, niobium and columbium.
Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting Parts
These Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting Parts are made of alloy 2205. This material is a duplex stainless steel consisting of 22% chromium, 3% molybdenum, 5-6% nickel and nitrogen alloys. It has high strength, good impact toughness and good overall and local stress corrosion resistance.
The Alloy Steel Lost Wax Casting is manufactured by wax loss casting method. The products cast with wax loss method have no traces of shell or gasket. It is better to cast hollowed out objects with it. China's traditional investment casting skills have a great impact on the international metallurgical development.
Why Choose Us
Our Factory
The company has precision casting and machining production lines, covering a total area of over 30,000 square meters, and employs about 180 employees.
Our Services
Our factory supply oem service (custom service) in precision investment casting, which are also called lost wax casting, we have been committed to this technique for over 20 years.
Advanced Equipment
A machine, tool or instrument designed with advanced technology and functionality to perform highly specific tasks with greater precision, efficiency and reliability.
Innovation
We are dedicated to improving our systems continually, ensuring that the technology we offer is always cutting edge.
Sand casting
Stainless steel sand casting or sand molded casting is a steel casting processes that involves the use of sand molds in order to shape and create complex metal parts. Expandable sand molds are prepared before molten metal is poured to take the desired shape.
Shell mold casting
Shell mold casting on the other hand, is a type of stainless steel casting process that makes use of resin-covered sand for better dimensional accuracy. It is a process that is very similar to sand casting, only it allows for the creation of reusable patterns (metal pieces or shells) that can be used over and over to produce accurate replications of the same part.
Investment casting
Investment casting is a steel casting technique that uses lost-wax casting principles. This technique involves the use of wax mold patterns to form accurate castings of small parts. The pattern, being made out of wax or a similar material can simply be removed by melting the mold away.
Ceramic mold casting
Ceramic mold casting or ceramic molding, on the other hand, makes use of ceramics as mold material. The process is a combination of investment and plaster mold casting, resulting in highly accurate steel castings.
Application of Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting
Food processing machinery
Due to rust prevention capability, stainless steel casting is used in almost all food processing equipment. Such pieces of equipment are generally assembled with many components. There are various processing techniques to make these components, such as forging, casting, machining from the plate, welding, etc. Besides, complex-shaped parts for food processing machinery are easy to produce due to the versatility of stainless steel casting. Coffee machine components, metal grinder components, and more are some examples of the stainless steel casting process.
Valve & pump components
Valve and pump components are crucial for the functioning of various equipment. Hence, the design must be robust enough for severe service applications and durability. Plus, the casting can be done to produce any complicated shape; it is highly feasible for the design of valve and pump components. Some valve & pump components produced from stainless steel casting are valve disc, valve body, valve bonnet, pump body, valve gland, pump impeller, and more.
Marine application
Various stainless steel alloys are used in the production of marine components. In marine applications, the method is chosen to produce strong parts due to its high heat resistance, abrasion, and corrosion properties.
Pipe fitting solutions
Components for pipe fittings are used in many diverse industries for connecting, altering the direction of piping, and controlling flow. Stainless steel casting is the most cost-effective approach for small-volume production. Elbow, bushing, tee, and more, are some of the fittings produced with stainless steel casting.
Medical equipment
Medical instrument manufacturers use stainless steel casting to produce various components. They work with multiple stainless steel materials, including stainless steel 316(l) and more, to create custom parts that fulfill the dimensional precision and tight tolerance needed by the medical application.
Key Considerations for Selecting Stainless Steel Grades
Corrosion Resistance
The corrosion resistance of stainless steel is a crucial aspect to evaluate. Different grades possess unique corrosion-resistant properties, so it is essential to identify the level of protection required for your specific environment or application. Consider the exposure to corrosive elements such as moisture, chemicals, or salt, and choose a stainless steel grade accordingly.
Mechanical Properties
Examining the mechanical properties of stainless steel grades is another critical factor. These properties encompass factors such as tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, and ductility, which directly impact the material's performance under various conditions. Determine the specific mechanical requirements of your project and select a grade that aligns with those prerequisites.
Temperature Resistance
In applications involving extreme heat or cold, temperature resistance becomes pivotal. Stainless steel grades exhibit varying degrees of resistance to elevated temperatures, thermal cycling, and cryogenic conditions. Assess the intended operating temperature range and ensure that the chosen grade can withstand the anticipated thermal stresses.
Cost Considerations
While technical requirements are important, it is also crucial to evaluate the associated costs of the desired stainless steel grade. Different grades come with varying price points due to their specific alloy composition and performance characteristics. Strive for a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness to maximize the value derived from your stainless steel selection.
Process of Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting
Mold Making
The mold used for stainless steel lost wax casting is mainly designed for injecting wax patterns. They are the same dimensions as final stainless steel castings. To ensure the quality of wax patterns, the mold must have high dimensional accuracy and a small surface roughness value. Normally, stainless steel casting companies choose aluminum alloy as the mold material. Compared to other suppliers, our foundry selects aviation aluminum as the mold material. But other stainless steel casting factories just use normal aluminum to save cost.
Wax Pattern Injection
Press the treated wax paste into the mold cavity, take it out after the ice water is condensed by the ice water machine, put it into the pool for a period of time, and get a single wax pattern after dressing and inspection. Wax pattern can be understood as a die-cast part.
Wax Pattern Reparing
The quality of wax patterns will directly determine the quality of final stainless steel castings. So, the wax patterns workshop needs to be controlled with constant temperature, minimize the deformation of wax patterns. Meanwhile, inspect the surface quality of each wax pattern, for those wax patterns with burrs, flash, and parting line, they need to be repaired.
Tree Assembly
After wax pattern repairing, to improve the productivity of qualified wax patterns, a single wax pattern is fused and welded on the pre-made casting system to form a wax pattern assembly. Generally, 2 ~ 80 wax patterns can be welded on one wax module. The tree-forming scheme determines the yield of products and the utilization rate of molten stainless steel. The tree-forming scheme should be carefully considered when designing, and it should be also considered whether the tree-forming scheme is convenient for the recovery and reuse of wax should.
Wax Pattern Clearing
After standing for more than 45min, the wax modules behind group trees can be cleaned. Before making shells and hanging slurry, the wax modules after group number must be cleaned to remove wax crumbs and grease on the surface. It can improve the adhesion of making shells. Immerse the module in cleaning fluid and reciprocate three times, about 4s in total. After taking it out, blow-dry the module with compressed air, and then make a shell by sizing.
Shell Making
After the coating wax patterns, put into the shell-making shop to dry. The surface layer was dried naturally. But the transition layer and back layer are dried by rotary air drying to speed up the drying. The coating was repeated 5 ~ 7 times (5 ~ 6 layers for small stainless steel castings and 6 ~ 9 layers for large stainless steel castings). Surface layer with fine sand, transition layer sand slightly coarse. After several layers of sand is thicker), until forming a 7 ~ 15mm hard shell. The hard shell has enough strength.
Dewaxing and Wax Treatment
The shell backward into the steam dewaxing ax, melt wax patterns, and outflow from the bottom of the shell. By the water separator separation, the liquid wax can be recyclable. 12 hours later, wax liquid through a filter will be included in the static barrels for 6 ~ 8 hours. Finally, wax liquid into the insulation heat preservation box for second use.
Shell Roasting, Pouring & Clearing
Before pouring, the shell after wax removal should be roasted. The shell should be roasted for 50 minutes in an oil furnace or electric furnace at 1100℃. The main purpose is to remove the residual wax liquid after wax removal. And to improve the strength and permeability of the shell. To prevent deformation or rupture of the shell during pouring. Another extremely important factor is to reduce the temperature difference between the castable liquid stainless steel and the shell to reduce the shrinkage of the workpiece. When the heat preservation of molten steel is stable and can be poured, the shell which reaches the roasting time in the roasting furnace can be poured. After the casting condenses, the shell is destroyed and the pouring system is removed. Finally, the burr is cleaned and shot blasting is carried out to obtain the target cast stainless steel parts. The surface of stainless steel lost wax castings should be treated by pickling and passivation.
Part complexity
The complexity of the part or component will determine which casting process is most suitable. For example, investment casting is ideal for complex shapes with intricate details, while sand casting is better suited for simple shapes with larger dimensions.
Accuracy requirements
The level of accuracy required for the part or component will also influence the casting process chosen. Investment casting and lost foam casting offer higher precision and tighter tolerances, while sand casting is less precise.
Material selection
The choice of stainless steel alloy for casting will also influence the casting process chosen. For example, investment casting is ideal for high-quality stainless steel alloys, while sand casting is better suited for lower-grade stainless steels.
Production volume
The volume of parts or components required will also play a role in selecting the right casting process. Investment casting is ideal for low to medium volume production, while sand casting is more suitable for high volume production.
Cost considerations
The cost of the casting process should also be taken into account, including the cost of materials, labor, and equipment. Sand casting is generally the most cost-effective, while investment casting and lost foam casting can be more expensive due to the higher precision and complexity involved.
Which Metals are Used in Lost Wax Casting
Stainless steel offers a versatile option for castings, and is used across many industries. The material is built from a mix of chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The grain and properties of the alloy created when using stainless steel will be determined by the levels of each of these metals. As chromium always accounts for 10% of the metal used, these alloys will be resistant to corrosion and oxidation.
Often chosen due to its low cost, economical and ferromagnetic properties, carbon steel is available in several grades and can be versatile in its ductility with heat treatment. Carbon steel alloys are often used within the aerospace, agriculture, medical and firearm industries.
Like stainless steel, nickel and cobalt alloys are resistant to oxidation, however both also offer a strong resistance to heat, wear and corrosion. Due to this you often find these alloys suit industries where extreme heat and corrosion is possible, such as marine, military, chemical and aerospace. These materials can be combined alongside iron and aluminium to create Alnico, a superalloy which offers a permanent magnet used within electric motors, magnetron tubes, turbine blades and jet aircraft engines.
Copper based alloys offer exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity, low wear and tear rates and good ductility. They are often found within the marine, plumbing and electrical industries. Alloys featuring copper include bronze which is found in bearings and boat propellers, brass found in musical instruments, plumbing and explosives, and cooper-nickel which is commonly combined to make castings in the marine industry.
Aluminium lost wax castings are popular due to the metal's machinability and corrosion resistance. Thanks to its fluid nature aluminium alloys can feature thin walls and when combined with other metals or when heat treated, the metal develops exceptional strength. The metal is one of the most abundant of all as it makes up 8% of the Earth's crust. It is a lightweight metal often used in the aerospace, military, automotive, packaging, food preparation and electrical industries. As well as aluminium lost wax casting, Dean Group also offers aluminium die casting services.
Important Considerations for Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting
Design
The success of the lost wax casting process depends heavily on the design of the wax pattern. Components should be designed with the casting process in mind, taking into account factors such as the need for uniform wall thickness and the ability to remove the wax pattern from the mold.
Tooling
Tooling is an important part of the lost wax casting process. High-quality tooling is essential for producing precise wax patterns and creating consistent, high-quality molds.
Surface Finish
The surface finish of the final component is affected by several factors, including the quality of the mold, the type of stainless steel used, and the finishing processes used after casting.
Material Selection
While stainless steel is an excellent material for lost wax casting, it is important to choose the right type of stainless steel for the specific application. Factors such as corrosion resistance, strength, and temperature resistance should all be considered when selecting a material.
Quality Control
Quality control is essential for ensuring that the final components meet the required specifications. Inspection processes should be in place throughout the casting process to identify any defects or inconsistencies.
Company Profile
Wabon Precision Metal Co. Ltd ,Founded in 2014, is a professional manufacturer and exporter of investment casting,which covered the mould manufacturing, CNC machining and surface finishing treatment.The company has precision casting and machining Production lines, covering a total area of over 30,000 square meters, and employs about 180 employees. The headquarters is located in a famous Chinese cultural city, the hometown of Confucius, Jining City, Shandong Province, Qingdao Port in the east and Jinan Yaowall International Airport in the north. The traffic conditions are very convenient.
FAQ
Q: What is Lost Wax Stainless Steel Casting?
Q: How does the process work?
Q: Why use stainless steel for lost wax casting?
Q: What are the benefits of lost wax casting?
Q: What industries use stainless steel lost wax casting?
Q: What types of stainless steel alloys can be used?
Q: Is lost wax casting cost-effective?
Q: What are the limitations of lost wax casting?
Q: Can lost wax castings be heat-treated?
Q: How do you ensure dimensional accuracy in lost wax castings?
Q: What surface finishes are achievable with lost wax casting?
Q: Are there any environmental considerations with this process?
Q: Can lost wax castings be welded or machined?
Q: What safety precautions should be taken during the process?
Q: How long does it take to produce a stainless steel lost wax casting?
Q: What quality control measures are used in lost wax casting?
Q: Can lost wax castings be customized for specific applications?
Q: Is there a minimum order quantity for lost wax castings?
Q: How do I choose a reliable foundry for my project?
Q: What post-casting treatments are available for stainless steel components?
