Investment casting (also known as lost wax investment casting or precision investment casting) produces parts with fine detail and an excellent as-cast surface finish. Investment casting produces internal or external features, thin walls, and internal passageways to reach a near-net shape. These features often lead to significant cost savings in material, labor, and machining compared to other metal casting processes.

In investment casting, a detailed wax pattern of the finished part is created and mounted onto a wax "tree" that includes the metal delivery system (gates and risers). The tree is alternately dipped into a ceramic slurry sprinkled with stucco material and then allowed to dry. This process is repeated until a thick shell exists over the wax pattern.  

The wax pattern is then melted, leaving a cavity within the stucco material in the shape of the pattern. Molten metal is poured into this cavity. Once the metal solidifies, the shell is broken away through a shakeout process, and the gating material is removed, leaving the finished part.

Investment casting does have a couple of drawbacks. It can be cost-prohibitive with smaller production runs due to upfront setup costs. Sand or die casting might be more applicable in that scenario. Extremely large metal parts are also better suited with other methods.

Advantages of  Investment CastingLost / Wax Casting

1、Excellent Surface Finish

2、Near Net Shape Tolerances

3、Minimal Machining Required

4、Near Net Shape Tolerances

5、Vast Range of Alloys

6、Rapid Prototyping