Machined investment casting
As with every form of investment casting, machined investment casting can have drastic differences but is always used to satisfy industrial requirements or performance specifications. Typical variations for castings include stainless steel castings for corrosion resistance, carbon steel castings for strength or durability, and alloy steel castings for high-temperature applications. Non-ferrous castings (like aluminum and brass) are also considered common due to their light weight/strong biophysical composition, in industries with loaded (aerospace or marine) applications.
Castings are also distinguished by application, for example complex pieces in the automotive industry, compared to simplistic pieces requiring immense tolerances in industrial machinery made from combative materials. The numerous variations available with castings and the precision machining opportunities make it a great fit for all types of complex, high-quality pieces in all industries.
Benefits of Machined investment casting
Machined investment casting, which combines the precision of CNC machining, with the forming capabilities of investment casting, provides a powerful suite of characteristics. All of the investment casting benefits (precision, strength, flexibility in materials and configuration, etc.) have combined with the added benefits of CNC machining to create parts with a high degree of tolerances, surface finishes, and low material waste. Machined investment casting provides strength and complexity in geometric configuration with limited manufacturability in engineering fields that include automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial machinery. Some of the benefits of using a repositional machining process reduce the number of manufacturing operations and ultimate cost, and the quality and reliability are consistent.
Applications and uses of Machined investment casting
Machined investment casting is the process of making an exact working copy shape out of an alloy. Machined investment casting is used by industries globally when the final product is complex, durable, and precision is important. In the automotive sector, machined investment casting is used to create engine components, valve bodies, and turbocharger housings, among others. The aerospace sector utilizes machined investment casting for turbine blades, structural fittings, landing gear components, and various other applications using special high-performance alloys. In the marine sector, machined investment casting is used for propellers, pump components and corrosion resistant fittings. Similarly, industrial machine makers use machined investment casting for valves, impellers, and wear-resistant tools; in the medical field in surgical instruments and orthopedic devices – due to their accuracy and biocompatibility.
Conclusion
Overall, machined investment casting is a manufacturing process that combines engineering characteristics, material flexibility, and low-cost to meet the needs of multiple industries. The process is unique in its ability to cast complex forms with excellent surface finish and geometrical tolerances in the same cycle, the result is a high-quality tailored solution to be used in applications where performance and reliability are essential. Today, industries that rely on the demands in lightweight aerospace components, multi-tool part machining, and subcomponents in heavy industrial machinery benefit from machinist investment casting providing value through functional enhancement and reduced production complexity. In the future, as industry pushes towards high quality, durable and efficient manufacturing methods, machined investment casting will remain a trusted method that has proven successful to date.
