Metal Fabrication Comparison Charts | Investment Casting

Aero Metals has created helpful investment cast comparison charts for dim-witted comparisons to other alloy fabrication methods. Die cast is the process in which fade metallic element is forced into a model cavity with high press. Using dissolve metallic requires tooling that is made of enured joyride steel, which causes start-up costs for modern programs to be extremely expensive and drawn-out. Tools besides wear quickly, requiring expensive refurbishments and replacements throughout the life of the joyride or product lifecycle. ferric metals, like carbon steel and stainless steel steel, can not be cast using this method acting, far limiting its utility. Our investment roll methods injects wax into an aluminum cavity. Aluminum has a lower metallic element fabrication cost, is easier to cut, and less expensive to maintain. Using wax besides is easier on tool, allowing it to maintain coherent parts for many more uses. investment casting allows for ferric and non-ferrous metals ( aluminum, administration, tan, etc ) to be cast .

Investment Casting vs. Die Casting
  Investment Cast Die Cast
Design Freedom Most Most
Tolerance Control Best Best
Surface Finish Good Best
Metal Selection Most Few
Size Range Average Average
Volume Capability All High
Lead Time Medium Long
Tool Cost Average High
Unit Cost Average Low
Added Machining Average Low

Investment Casting Compared with Powder Mettalurgy

The powder metallic element process is childlike, but requires many different steps. First, the premixed metal powder is compressed in a mold by a high power press, providing its shape and increased density. This is the “ green state ” — the parts, called compacts at this stage, are shaped but not technically solid. adjacent, compacts are fed through a sinter oven, which heats them to a temperature fair below the melting point of the alloy. This allows the alloy particles to fuse together without melting and thereby keeping their shape .
additionally, parts made from powder metallurgy can be very dense, which can be good or bad depending on applications, but controlled porosity can besides be achieved. Mold creation for powder metallurgy is expensive and, though complex parts can be manufactured, there are limits to geometry that investment molding does not encounter. In comparison, Investment shed allows for ferric and non-ferrous metals ( aluminum, brass section, tan, etc ) to be cast .
investment casting methods can cut down department of labor time and offer one continuous region that provides a systematically clean look to the end exploiter. additionally, the reduction of labor time reduces moderate times and the overall monetary value .

Investment Casting vs. Powdered Metal
  Investment Cast Powdered Metal
Design Freedom Most Least
Tolerance Control Best Best
Surface Finish Good Best
Metal Selection Most Average
Size Range Average Small
Volume Capability All High
Lead Time Medium Medium
Tool Cost Average Average
Unit Cost Average Low
Added Machining Average Low

Investment Casting Compared with Metal Stamping

Metal stamp is a more primitive alloy shaping method acting. Metal stamp is performed when a sheet or strip of metal is delivered into a hydraulic or mechanical press which uses a die and high pressure to shape the metallic element fabrication into the hope parts .
A negative expression of alloy emboss is that there is not much flexibility in the shape and thickness of the sheet metallic element, so the greater the complexity of the character, the more extra components that must be added to the metallic stamping march, which raises the monetary value. Metal stamping besides produces a fortune of waste, as there is a significant total of idle fight metallic that results from a stamp project, much more than with investing casting methods .
investment castings reduce thriftlessness, labor clock time, and machine time that creates a dearly-won metallic fabrication process. investment cast can besides incorporate varying metal thicknesses and blind holes .

Investment Casting vs. Metal Stamping
  Investment Cast Stamping
Design Freedom Most Average
Tolerance Control Best Best
Surface Finish Good Best
Metal Selection Most Average
Size Range Average Average
Volume Capability All High
Lead Time Medium Medium
Tool Cost Average High
Unit Cost Average Low
Added Machining Average Low

Investment Casting Compared with Metal Forging

Forging is the metal fabrication process in which either hot or coldness material is pressed with a massive hammer to push the material into the coveted form. This procedure requires highly expensive tool that often needs to be replaced. While the persuasiveness of a contribution is slightly better with forgings, the heighten level of danger built-in to forging, along with peculiarity equipment, drives the price of forgings higher. many forgings need to be heavily treated after completion for hardness, ampere well as to be machined due to lack of tolerance defend .
investing frame methods require less expensive equipment, and is inherently less dangerous, allowing costs to remain lower. investment castings besides can hold much tighter tolerances, reducing the sum of machining distinctive to forgings .

Investment Casting vs. Metal Forging
  Investment Cast Forging
Design Freedom Most Least
Tolerance Control Best Poor
Surface Finish Good Average
Metal Selection Most Average
Size Range Average Average
Volume Capability All High
Lead Time Medium Long
Tool Cost Average Average
Unit Cost Average Average
Added Machining Average High

Investment Casting Compared with Permanent Mold

permanent wave molds consist of mold cavities machined into metallic element fail blocks and designed for insistent use. The march lends itself very well to the use of expendable cores and makes potential the product of parts that are not suitable for the pressure diecasting process. however, since this work has a higher price of tooling it requires a higher volume of castings to make economic sense. permanent molds are besides broadly limited to the production of slightly little castings of simple outside designs.

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investing hurl methods are desirable for big or belittled quantities of parts and are suitable for most ferrous/non-ferrous metals .

Investment Casting vs. Permanent Mold
  Investment Cast Permanent Mold
Design Freedom Most Average
Tolerance Control Best Average
Surface Finish Good Average
Metal Selection Most Average
Size Range Average Average
Volume Capability All All
Lead Time Medium Medium
Tool Cost Average Average
Unit Cost Average Average
Added Machining Average Average

Investment Casting Compared with Plaster Mold

Plaster cast is a casting serve with similarities to sand cast. alternatively of using sandpaper in the march, a mix of water, gypsum and strengthening compounds are used. Plaster molding delivers a smooth, as-cast finish, but it requires a minimum of a 1-degree gulp. It is besides a more expensive summons when compared to permanent mold and sand draw. In addition, this method may require the frequent replacement of plaster mold materials .
investment casting offers a flexibility in design and is a utilitarian process for casting alloys that are difficult to machine. investment casting methods besides allow for complex shapes, intricate core sections, fine details and thin walls .

Investment Casting vs. Plaster Mold
  Investment Cast Plaster Mold
Design Freedom Most Average
Tolerance Control Best Average
Surface Finish Good Average
Metal Selection Most Few
Size Range Average Average
Volume Capability All Low
Lead Time Medium Short
Tool Cost Average Low
Unit Cost Average High
Added Machining Average Average

Investment Casting Compared with Sand Casting

backbone castings are made by creating a damaging in a bed of backbone to create the cavity for casting. A sand shell creates a harsh outside to castings. typical coat finish of backbone castings are 250 Ra as shed, and need extensive work afterwards to create a surface finish that is acceptable in most applications. Sand castings can besides not hold as tight of tolerances as Investment Castings, and will likely need more machine than an investment molding .
investment draw uses a ceramic mold that can produce a much smoother finish, typically averaging 125 Ra open ending as shed. Investment castings besides greatly reduce the measure of machine that will be required after casting by holding a .005 ” /inch permissiveness for the majority of the applications .

Investment Casting vs. Sand Casting
  Investment Cast Sand Casting
Design Freedom Most Average
Tolerance Control Best Poor
Surface Finish Good Poor
Metal Selection Most Most
Size Range Average Large
Volume Capability All All
Lead Time Medium Medium
Tool Cost Average Low
Unit Cost Average Average
Added Machining Average High

Investment Casting Compared with Metal Fabrication

metallic fabrications are metal structures produced by cutting, bending, and welding multiple pieces of corporeal together. This method acting produces increase steps, and results in a higher scrap rate. The increase in otiose materials, along with increased department of labor prison term, causes alloy fabrications to be expensive and time devour .
A polish investing casting method can cut down labor time, while providing a continuous part that delivers a clean and consistent look to the end user. The decrease of labor clock time besides reduces precede times and all applicable costs. Casting consistency can besides lead to lower bit rates, which can lower your overall metallic element lying costs flush further .

Investment Casting vs. Metal Fabrication
  Investment Cast Metal Fabrication
Design Freedom Most Average
Tolerance Control Best Average
Surface Finish Good Poor
Metal Selection Most Average
Size Range Average Large
Volume Capability All All
Lead Time Medium Short
Tool Cost Average Low
Unit Cost Average High
Added Machining Average High

Read more: Dustin J. Bender

Contact Aero Metals for your Precision Investment Casting Project

Contact us for more data on our metallic lying investment casting methods, or request a quote today .

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