Mould Sintering & Preheating Furnace

Investment casting is also known as the lost wax process. This process

is one of the oldest known metal-forming processes. The investment

casting process is generally used for small castings that cannot be

produced by normal manufacturing techniques, such as industrial gas

turbine blades and vanes/nozzles with complex shapes, or airplane

parts that have to withstand high temperatures.

The mould is made by making a pattern using wax or some other material that can be melted away. After dipping and drying, the entire pattern (mould) is placed in a de-waxing furnace or autoclave and the wax is melted away. Just before the pour, the mould is pre-heated to a temperature in the range of 1000-1200°C to remove any residues of wax and harden the binder. Using pre-heated moulds for pouring also ensures that the mould will fill completely. Applying a positive pressure during casting or cast under vacuum will enable casting of more complex shaped products and ensure all cavities are filled with liquid metal.