Process Overview
Investment casting — also called lost-wax casting — has been the process of choice for aerospace and defense manufacturers for over 60 years, and for good reason. A precision wax pattern is built to your exact drawing, coated with 5–8 layers of ceramic slurry, then dewaxed and fired. Molten metal fills the cavity at over 1,600°C, capturing every detail of the original pattern. The result: near-net-shape components with dimensional tolerances as tight as ±0.1mm and surface finishes of Ra 1.6–3.2μm — often eliminating secondary machining entirely. At PrimeCast Global, every investment casting drawing is reviewed by our 30-year aerospace casting specialist before production begins. We catch DFM issues before they become scrap.
Key Advantages
- Dimensional tolerances as tight as ±0.1mm — CT4 to CT6 grade achievable
- Surface finish Ra 1.6–3.2μm directly from casting — reduces or eliminates machining
- Complex geometries: undercuts, thin walls (down to 1.5mm), internal passages in one piece
- Broad material range: carbon steel, 304/316 stainless, titanium Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 718, cobalt alloys
- Near-net-shape output — material utilization typically 85–95%, reducing waste and cost
- Consistent quality from prototype to 50,000+ piece production runs
Technical Specifications
Process Flow
Step-by-step overview of our Investment Casting workflow — from raw material to finished casting.
Typical Applications
Compatible Materials
Full Technical Specifications
Comprehensive process parameters for Investment Casting — based on ISO 8062 / GB/T 6414 standards.
| Parameter | Value / Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance Grade (ISO 8062) | CT4 – CT6 | Achievable on complex aerospace geometry |
| Dimensional Tolerance | ±0.1 mm – ±0.3 mm | Depends on part size and alloy |
| Surface Roughness (Ra) | 1.6 – 6.3 μm | As-cast; 0.8 μm achievable after machining |
| Minimum Wall Thickness | 1.5 mm | Thin-wall capability with optimised gating |
| Typical Weight Range | 0.01 kg – 50 kg | Heavier parts on request |
| Typical Materials | Carbon steel, 304/316 SS, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 718, Cobalt alloys | Full alloy list on request |
| Typical Applications | Turbine blades, impellers, valve bodies, medical implants, aerospace brackets | — |
| Heat Treatment | Annealing, normalising, quench & temper, solution + aging | Per ASTM / AMS specifications |
| NDT / Inspection | X-ray, PT, MT, UT, CMM dimensional report | Third-party inspection available |
| Certifications | ISO 9001:2015; AS9100D on request | Material certs (MTR) included |
| Lead Time (prototype) | 15 – 25 working days | From approved drawing to first article |
| Lead Time (production) | 25 – 45 working days | Depends on quantity and complexity |
* All values are indicative. Actual achievable parameters depend on part geometry, alloy, and tooling design. Contact our engineers for drawing-specific assessment.