6 Advantages of Investment Castings

1. SMOOTH FINISH
Investment casting uses a ceramic mold that can produce a much smoother finish, typically averaging 125 RA surface finish as cast.Sand shell casting cavity creates a rough exterior.Typical surface finish of 250 Ra as cast.Cannot hold tight tolerances.Needs extensive machining after casting for acceptable surface finish

2. FASTER PRODUCTION
Economic way to produce high definition, complex detail parts.Reduced waste, labor time & machine time lowers cost
Shorter labor time reduces lead times & costs.Investment castings cut down on labor time and produce quicker lead times because it greatly reduces the amount of machining required after casting.

3. TIGHT TOLERANCES
Investment castings hold tighter tolerances, which reduces the amount of machining required. The standard tolerance is
+/-.005 per inch.

4. AFFORDABLE TOOLING
Investment casting requires less expensive equipment and is inherently less dangerous, which allows for costs to remain low.

5. VAST SIZE RANGE
Investment casting allows for both large and small casts. Intricate, miniature parts that are 1/10 of an ounce or less can be cast, and also large parts up to 50 pounds can be cast.

6. MATERIAL VARIETY
There are a variety of materials that can be used for investment casting which range from bronze, stainless steel, and even aluminum.