Here are the key steps involved in the steel investment casting process:
- Wax Pattern Creation:
- Injection Molding: Create wax patterns by injecting molten wax into molds.
- Pattern Assembly: Assemble wax patterns for the next casting stages.
- Shell Building:
- Coating: Apply ceramic coatings to the wax assembly.
- Drying: Thoroughly dry the coated pattern.
- Stuccoing: Reinforce the assembly with stucco material.
- Dewaxing:
- Autoclave: Subject the wax-coated assembly to high temperatures and pressure for dewaxing.
- Flash Fire: Eliminate remaining wax residues through a flash fire process.
- Pouring:
- Melting: Melt selected steel in a furnace.
- Pouring: Pour molten steel into the prepared shell, taking the shape of the wax pattern.
- Cooling and Solidification:
- Allow the poured steel to cool and solidify within the shell.
- Shell Removal and Finishing:
- Remove the ceramic shell after solidification.
- Perform finishing processes on the raw casting for the final product.
Overall, the steel investment casting process is valued for producing intricate, precise metal parts with a smooth surface finish, particularly suitable for small to medium-sized production runs.
