Industry News

Castings - Frequently Asked Questions

Where are stainless steel castings typically used?
Stainless steel castings are put to use throughout various industries. They are commonly used in food processing equipment, valve components, power generation equipment, hydroelectric facilities as well as petrochemical and heat treat furnace parts.

Why is investment casting called the lost wax process?
During the investment casting process a part pattern is made out of wax. The wax part is coated with a shell (usually ceramic) and heated to melt the wax out of the center. Once the wax is lost, molten material is poured into the cavity where a metal part is formed.

What is sand casting?
Sand casing is the process of using a mold cavity formed out of sand to create metal parts. Iron, steel, and stainless steels are commonly poured into sand molds. Sand castings have a rough, irregular surface; therefore a finishing process is usually performed in order to smooth the casting.

When should you use investment casting?
Investment casting is best used when the part design calls for intricacies and close dimensional tolerances. It involves more steps than sand and various other types of castings. In addition investment casting can be used to create thinner sections of metal.

When should you use sand casting?
Sand casting is less expensive than investment casting, but the final part is rougher. Products made through sand casting may require additional finishing before it is complete.

What materials can be used in castings?
Casting materials include aluminum alloys, bronze, tool steels, stainless steels, Stellite, carbon steels, Hastelloys and precious metals.