If you’re in need of precise product dimensions, or intricate shapes that are challenging to manufacture using traditional methods, or if you require bulk production with diverse alloy material specifications, we recommend stainless steel investment casting. It’s a high-precision casting technique and stands out as one of the most suitable manufacturing methods available.

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What is Stainless Steel Investment Casting?

Stainless steel precision casting, also referred to as investment casting, it’s a kind of casting manufacturing process. It employs a wax pattern created through 3D or CAD design. This pattern is then coated with a mixture of silica sol or sodium silicate binder and different grades of sand for shell molding. This meticulous process results in castings with impeccable surface finish and precise dimensional tolerances. What sets this method apart is its avoidance of extremely high temperatures during casting, making it ideal for manufacturing components for high-precision industries like aerospace and defense.

What is the Process for Stainless Steel Investment Casting?

 The process of investment casting includes steps such as Tooling design, injection of wax, and so on, you will see the details from the chart as follows:

What Industries Request Investment Casting Parts?

With excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and easy maintenance and cleaning, stainless steel castings are extensively used in the following industries:

Aerospace

Automotive Industry

Pump manufacturers

Food industry

Pharmaceutical industry 

Shipbuilding Industry

Chemical Industry

What are the key features and advantages of stainless steel precision casting that users should be aware of?

High dimensional accuracy and fine surface finish: 

Stainless steel precision castings boast exceptional dimensional accuracy, achieving grades of 4-6, and offer surface roughness ranging from 0.4 to 3.2 micrometers. This reduces the need for extensive machining.

Ability to cast intricate and challenging shapes:

 This method can produce components with complex shapes that are difficult to achieve through other manufacturing processes. From small-scale dimensions of a few millimeters to large-scale dimensions exceeding a thousand millimeters, and with wall thicknesses as thin as 0.5mm and minimum hole diameters below 1.0mm.

High production flexibility and adaptability

 Stainless steel precision casting is versatile, catering to both large-scale production runs and smaller batches or even individual pieces.

How is the investment casting different from the conventional casting?

The essence of investment casting versus conventional casting can be likened to the difference between finely crafted jade and rugged stone.

In terms of material selection

investment casting demands top-notch raw materials, often opting for high-quality alloy materials to ensure the resulting products boast superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Conversely, conventional casting has lower material requirements, focusing more on cost efficiency and production speed.

In casting techniques

 Investment casting employs cutting-edge precision molding technologies such as investment casting and precision die casting. These techniques ensure precise dimensional accuracy and a high-quality surface finish for castings. In contrast, conventional casting relies more on traditional methods like sand casting and metal mold casting, resulting in lower casting precision and surface quality.

Investment casting involves meticulous post-processing

Investment casting often requires procedures such as heat treatment, precision grinding, and polishing to further enhance product performance and aesthetics. Conversely, conventional casting typically involves simple cleaning and rough machining after casting completion.

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What Grade of Stainless Steel Investment Casting Can Manufacturing Factory Provide?

Manufacturing factory can recommend the best solutions based on your product performance and application requirements, Below are the Stainless Steel alloy scope we normally cast in the factory but not limited to:

Austenitic Stainless Steels Grades

316/316L

• Medical
• Mining
• Food and Dairy
• Petrochemical
• Automotive
• Valves

Ferritic/Martensitic Stainless Steel Grades 

430

440A

• Automotive
• Machine tool
• Food and Dairy
• Petrochemical
• Medical

(Duplex) Stainless Steel Grades

• Chemical processing & storage
• Oil & gas exploration
• Cargo tanks
• Food & dairy
• Marine Accessories

Conclusion

Overall, stainless steel precision casting offers superior precision, versatility, and adaptability, making it a preferred choice for various industries, For any others you want to know about investment casting, please contact BT for more information. 

FAQS

How to find the best Stainless Steel investment casting suppliers?

The suppliers should have good casting equipment to ensure product quality and precision. Additionally, their technical team should be experienced and capable of providing customized solutions based on customer needs.

The suppliers should have a robust quality management system, They should be able to respond promptly to customer needs and provide professional technical support and after-sales service.

Stainless Steel Investment Castings

Stainless steel investment casting, also referred to as precision casting or lost wax casting, is a manufacturing process used to create complex metal parts in a wide range of shapes and sizes. It involves pouring molten stainless steel into a ceramic shell or mold, which is produced by coating a wax pattern with a ceramic material.

Aero Metals Inc. has extensive experience producing high-volume stainless steel investment castings for a broad range of applications spanning various industries, including aerospace, marine, military, and more. Check out our featured cast parts gallery for prime examples of our stainless steel casting work.

What is Stainless Steel Investment Casting?

After the initial pour and once the ceramic material has solidified around the wax pattern, the wax is melted away, leaving a cavity in the ceramic shell. The molten stainless steel is then poured into this cavity, filling the mold and taking on the shape of the wax pattern. After the metal has cooled and solidified, the ceramic shell is removed, and the finished stainless steel part is cleaned, polished, and inspected for quality.

What are the Advantages of Stainless Steel Investment Casting?

Investment casting is known for producing high-precision parts with excellent surface finish. It is a good choice for applications where precision and aesthetics are essential, such as in the medical, aerospace, and automotive industries. Additional stainless steel benefits include:

• Corrosion resistance
• Impact resistance & strength
• Enhanced aesthetic value
• Cost-effective
• Ultra-hygienic
• Heat resistant
• Precision tolerances

Stainless Steel Investment Casting Material Composition

Stainless steel has a minimum chromium content of 10.5%, making it more resistant to corrosive liquid environments and oxidation. However, this is not absolute. Stainless steel investment castings are “corrosion-resistant” when used in fluid environments and vapors below °F (650°C) and “heat-resistant” when used above this temperature.

Stainless Steel Investment Casting Base Alloy Elements

The base alloy elements of any nickel-base or stainless steel casting are chromium, nickel, and molybdenum (or “moly”). These three components will determine the casting’s grain structure and mechanical prosperities and will be instrumental in the casting’s ability to combat heat and/or corrosion.

Differences Between Wrought & Cast Stainless Steel

The differences between wrought and cast versions of stainless steel are due to the material’s chemical compositions and micro-grain structure, which is affected by how the material is produced, cast, or extruded. These factors must be considered when choosing an alloy for your stainless steel investment casting metal project.

Precision Casting Stainless Steel Alloy Options

Aero Metal’s stainless steel investment castings are available in several series grades, including 300, 400, 14-4 PH, 15-5 PH, 17-4 PH, and .

Precision Casting Custom Pour Capabilities

At Aero Metals, we can custom pour any “air melted” stainless steel alloy to fit your stainless steel investment casting project requirements. If you don’t see your alloy of choice listed above, visit our Investment Casting Alloys page for more material options.

Industries that Utilize Stainless Steel Investment Castings

Premium stainless steel investment castings provide increased corrosion resistance, enhanced surface finishes, and improved detailing. Industries that commonly use stainless steel investment castings include:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Food Processing
• Desalination Plants
• Pump Manufacturers
• Machinery Producers
• Medical
• Mining
• Petrochemical
• Agriculture
• Energy

Contact Aero Metals for your Stainless Steel Casting Project Today

Using our on-site spectrometer, Aero Metals can help you find the right alloy to fit your stainless steel casting requirements. This device allows you to produce your own “specialty alloy” and enables you to change the chemistry to suit your application’s environment.

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