NEXUS ENGINEERING

Investment casting, also know as lost wax casting is regarded as a precision casting process to fabricate near-net-shaped with components requiring complex shapes , often thin-wall , products which may not require future machining with accuracy, repeatability, versatility and integrity in a variety of metals and high-performance alloys.

Investment castings offer complex internal geometries, significant weight reduction opportunities, and unlimited alloy choices for the ultimate in design flexibility.

The reduction or elimination of secondary machining allows us to easily convert multi-part assemblies into single, as-cast parts with high rates of repeatability. Thin wall capabilities, smooth surface finishes, and consistent dimensional accuracies make investment casting the simple solution to complex engineering.

Wax is injected into an aluminum die to produce a pattern that is an exact replica of the part to be produced. For every casting, a wax pattern must be manufactured. The patterns are clustered around a coated sprue and repeatedly dipped into an agitated vat of ceramic and allowed to dry. After a shell thickness of approximately 3/16" has been built; the molds are dewaxed by either flash firing at high heat (1400 F.) or autoclaving (pressure and steam). The hollow shells are then preheated to 800-2000 F.depending on the alloy to be poured and the molten metal cast immediately into the hot shell. After cooling, the ceramic is vibrated and blasted off the metal parts and discarded. The balance of the cleaning operations (cut off, grind, heat treat, straightening, blast) are straight forward and quite similar to the other casting processes.