Investment Casting

This casting method involves producing a "wax pattern" by injecting wax or plastic into a pattern die. The pattern is attached to gating and runner systems and this assembly is dipped in a hard setting refractory slurry, which is then cured. The pattern is melted out of the mould to leave an exact cavity. The mould is heated to cure the refractory and to volatilize the remaining wax pattern material. The moulds are baked and molten metal is poured into the mould cavity. On solidification of the casting, the mould material is broken away from the castings.