"Lost Wax" Investment Casting Process

From the designer's blueprint or CAD data, a wax injection die is made to receive molten wax injected under pressure.  For prototypes, plastic patterns, SLA's, or machined waxes are fabricated; eliminating mold construction time and cost.

The wax or prototype patterns are mounted to a wax tree with suitable gates and runners. A ceramic mold is formed around the patterns by either the "solid mold" or "ceramic shell" process.  The "solid mold" process uses a steel flask placed around the patterns and filled with a liquid plaster.  A "ceramic shell" is produced by the repeated dipping of the patterns into a liquid slurry and then coating with a fine sand. The patterns are removed or "lost" by heating the ceramic mold. Molten metal is poured into the cavities.

After solidification, the metal parts are removed from the ceramic material.  The gates and runners are removed.  The final product is an intricate "Lost Wax" Investment Casting.