Investment/lost wax casting is a popular choice for smaller, more intricate components where a higher degree of precision is required. It is a multi-step process that can be used to cast parts from materials including aluminium alloy, stainless steel, carbon steel and copper alloys to name but a few.
Firstly a model of the required design is made in wax, with copies then being made in accordance with the number of components required. These wax models are then mounted to a 'tree', before the whole unit is dipped in ceramic and fired in an oven - this solidifies the ceramic and melts the wax, which then runs out of the newly-formed mould.
Once the mould is manufactured, molten material is then poured into it before being allowed to cool. The solidified components are then retrieved from the mould by breaking the ceramic apart - these will still be attached to the 'tree' and will need to be removed before post-production operations (for instance, machining, grinding, drilling) can take place.
Investment/lost wax casting is also known as precision casting, owing to the level of accuracy achievable. It is an ancient process dating back some six thousand years; however, the same principles are still used in the modern world to produce parts for numerous industries.