At MARC Investment Castings, we have many years of experience in the investment casting industry. We produce investment castings from both ferrous and non-ferrous metals in the required specifications for Automobile, medical, defence, and other critical industry applications at our foundry.
Investment Casting Process Steps at Marc Investment Castings :
We are proud to produce complex investment cast parts with superior surface finishes in the industries fastest lead-times for the following markets:
Process | Investment (Lost Wax) |
Green Sand | Dry Sand (Chemical or Vapor Cure) |
Permanent Mold (Gravity Die Casting) |
Die Casting |
Metals Cast | Nearly all ferrous and non-ferrous alloys | Wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys | Wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys | Nonferrous alloys (Al, Zn, Mg, certain Cu), some Fe | Nonferrous alloys only (Al, Zn, Cu, Mg, Sn, Pb) |
Complexity of Shape | 4 (Greatest) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 (Least) |
Casting Weight | Ounces to 250 lbs. | Ounces to Tons | Ounces to Tons | Ounces to 250 lbs. | Ounces to 40 lbs. |
Min. Section Thickness | 0.020″-0.080″ | 0.125″-0.250″ | 0.060″-0.250″ | 0.060″-0.250″ | 0.025″-0.080″ |
Linear Dimensional Tolerances | Under 1″: +/-0.005″. Over 1″ add +/- 0.003 in.in | +/- 0.015-0.250 in Add +/- 0.015″-0.250″ across parting plane | +/-0.020-0.060 in. Add +/- 0.020″-0.060″ across parting plane | Under 1″: +/- 0.010. Over 1″ add +/- 0.002 in/in. Add +/-0.015-0.060″ across parting plane | +/-0.0015-0.005 in Add +/-0.001″-0.005″ across parting plane |
Surface Finish (Micro Inches) | 63-125 | 150-500 | 150-250 | 150-350 | 32-63 |
Tooling Costs | Low-to-Moderate | Low | Low | Moderate | High |
Optimum Lot Size | Small-to-Medium depending on degree of process mechanization | Small-to-large depending on degree of process mechanization | Small-to-medium depending on degree of process mechanization | Medium | Large |
Draft Required | None | 1-5 degrees | 1-3 degrees | 2-5 degrees | 1/2 to 2 degrees |
Advantages | No Parting Plane. Accommodates nearly all metals. Near-net-shape castings require minimal machining. | High production rates possible through mechanization | Moisture-free mold | Mold life of 15,000 cycles or more depending upon pouring temperature of metal and upon casting specs. Both metal and sand cores are used. | Mold life from 15,000 cycles depending upon pouring temperature of metal and upon casting specs. Near-net-shape castings require minimal machining. |
Disadvantages | Mold is not reusable. Mold materials not reusable. Process is labor and energy intensive | Mold is not reusable. | Mold is not reusable. | Some shapes cannot be cast. | Sealing may be required to achieve pressure or leak tight castings. Metal cores only. Sand cores cannot be used. |