Frequently Asked Questions | CFS Foundry

1.What Is the Definition of Investment Casting?

Cencho are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

Investment casting, also known as precision casting, is an industrial lost wax manufacturing process for small metal components.

2. What Kind of Products Could be Made in Investment Casting?

Investment casting process is suitable for products less than 100kg, and it is flexible for product design, no matter how complex it is. So investment casting can make almost all the small products. For larger products, sand casting is preferred.

3. What Are the Benefits of Investment Casting?

There are lots of benefits of investment casting, such as affordable tooling cost, no quantity limitation, flexible design, large selection of material specification, etc. See more about benefits of investment castings…

4. What Alloys can CFS Foundry Make for Investment Castings?

CFS foundry offers a wide range of alloys selection for investment castings. Common materials used in investment casting are :Alloy steel ,carbon steel, stainless steel, gray iron, ductile iron, etc. We can make products following your material specifications or material compositions.

5.What Type of Tooling is Required for Investment Casting?

A split aluminum tool or die is used to create a wax pattern, which is then coated with layers of stucco and ceramic material. Before pouring the alloy, wax will be first melted away, which is where the term “lost wax casting” originated. In other processes (forging, stamping, die casting), tooling is quite much more complex and expensive.

6. What General Tolerances can We Meet for An Investment Casting Part?

For lost wax investment castings, we can reach general tolerances CT7-CT8. And for smaller precision parts, CT5-CT6 can be available.

7. What Is the Typical Surface Finish of Investment Casting?

Good surface finish starts with the injection die and the production of a wax pattern with an excellent surface. Next, the first layer of ceramic applied to the pattern is designed to replicate extreme detail and create an interior mold surface that is very smooth and non-reactive when contacted by molten metal. As a result, surface finishes of Ra12.5-Ra6.3 are typical with some alloys producing smoother surfaces than others.

8. Is Small Quantity Acceptable for Investment Castings in CFS foundry?

Yes, we do not have quantity requirements for investment castings, even if a trial order with small quantity, it is also acceptable. Besides, we can supply demands of large quantity order with annual capability of 8,000t.

9. Can CFS Foundry Supply Machining Service As Well After Investment Casting?

Even if investment casting can reach excellent tolerances, but sometimes, for tighter dimensional tolerances, additional machining will be needed. So to supply finished products, we also have a mature machining production line.

10. What Is the Lead Time of Investment Castings?

Normally, it will take us about 20-30 working days for one off sample, and another 25-35 working days for batch production.

11. How Does CFS do Quality Control for Investment Casting Parts?

For more customized stainless steel investment casting partsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

First of all, we have a district inner control system of each production process. Secondly,we are equipped with complete testing instruments, such as Spectrograph, Brinell & Rockwell hardness tester, Impect testing instrument, MT instrument, etc. Thirdly, sample will be provided before mass production. Also, for mass production, we will select some products randomly for testing. And even if there will be quality problem after delivery, we will also send replacements asap at our own costs or return parts of production payments to our customers directly.

12. What Makes CFS Different From Other Foundries?

CFS aims to produce top-quality investment castings with a wide range of metal alloys. Our team has the extensive experience, knowledge and commitment to ensure that you will have a truly exceptional customer experience with us. We serve online at 7×24 hours.

Is the part to be heat treated? If so, is there a hardness requirement? Are there mechanical testing requirements?

What lot quantities of investment castings would you like us to quote? Is this a one time job or a recurring job?
Base on the customer’s demand, if there is no idea, we might request the minimum quantity for each furnace capacity.

We need as much information about the part as possible. This is a new part? If it is an existing job, how is it currently being made? If it is currently being investment cast why are you looking for new foundry? Is to get better quality, delivery or price?

If this is an existing part, does investment casting tooling currently exist for part. If so any tooling rework or modification will be at customer's expense.

We need drawings of 2D and 3D or samples. The more information we receive the fewer questions we will have to ask before we can quote. Ideally we would like to have:

3D CAD files. We would prefer SolidWorks files. If these are not available then this is the desired order.

1. SolidWorks format

2. STEP format

3. X_T format

4. IGES format

5. STL format

2D drawings. We need these for tolerances. We do make many rapid prototype parts without 2D drawings. But if tolerances are important 2D drawings are a necessity. Note if you only send us a 2D drawing and the dimensions and or tolerances are not legible we will not be able to quote.

Samples if available. This is not a necessity, unless that is all you have, but they can be very helpful during our quoting process

Unless critical dimensions are called out on 2D drawings we will need to know what dimensions are critical and what are not critical.

Are you interested in learning more about 3 ball valve dimensions? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!