Investment Casting (MetalTek International)

Investment casting at MetalTek's Wisconsin Investcast Division in Watertown, WI.
In investment casting a detailed wax pattern of the finished part is created and mounted onto a wax "tree" that includes the metal delivery system (gates and risers). The tree is alternately dipped into a ceramic slurry and sprinkled with stucco material and allowed to dry. This process is repeated until a thick shell exists over the wax pattern.
The wax pattern is melted, leaving a cavity within the stucco material in the shape of the pattern. Molten metal is poured into this cavity. Once the metal solidifies the shell is broken away through a shakeout process and the gating material is removed, leaving the finished part.