investment casting

Investment casting and sand casting are two different methods by which one can create metal parts; by pouring melted metal into a three-dimensional mould. Both methods have been here for centuries; however, throughout the years, both processes have been through evolution and were refined to make the process easier and more sustainable. 

Both the techniques have significant differences, and if you are thinking about becoming either an investment or a sand casting manufacturer, you should know the entire process accurately. So, the first thing you should do is have some basic knowledge about both methods.

Investment Casting

The manufacturer creates a wax pattern to produce different metal parts to manufacture investing casting. The molten metal is poured inside the ceramic shell built around the wax pattern. The wax gets removed when the ceramic is hard enough. The investment casting generally has the same pattern as the wax, and the surface is relatively smoother. Also, the wax can be reused all over again, so the wastage is lesser.

Sand Casting

The sand sits around the final product’s model pattern compactly; this is how sand casting manufacturers create sand moulds. Often, the manufacturer mixes clay with the sand and sprinkles some water to make the mould more challenging. Although the sand is reusable, the sand mould is not. The sand mould has two parts; they are tightly fastened during the casting. 

Difference Between Investment Casting & Sand Casting

Difference Between Sand Casting and Investment Casting

These casting techniques have been here for ages, but they do have some significant differences. There are more than one major difference, and if you want to become a casting manufacturer or start a business, you should be aware of these critical differences.

Process: The primary difference between investment casting and sand casting is the process. For investment casting, there are a total of eight main steps; first creating a wax pattern, then wax tree assembly, third shell building, fourth wax removing, then metal pouring, Afterwards shell knock-off, seventh cut off the parts, and individual casting. And sand casting has six steps in total, starting from creating a mould pattern in the sand, then setting up the gating system and removing the mould pattern and then pouring melted metal into the mould void, after that metal solidification and removal of metal casting.

Material: India’s investment casting manufacturer mainly uses metals such as brass, stainless steel alloy, and carbon tell. But for sand casting, the manufacturer uses various metals like steel, iron, brass, aluminium, bronze, etc. 

Size: Investment casting is primarily famous for crafting smaller material parts as the most cast from the interjected wax make the wax pattern. That is why the crafting is pretty fine. But for sand crafting, the mould pattern creates the mould cavity. Sand casting is not great for crafting small material parts; it is better for large parts.

Weight: Weight is also an aspect that differentiates these two casting methods. On average, the heaviest metal part you can cast using the investment casting technique is around 100 lbs. There is no limit to sand casting. You can cast metal as heavy as you want.

Surface: If you use investment casting, you will notice that the surface finish of the metal is pretty smooth, but for sand casting, it is different from the surface finish for sand casting left seam lines as the sand mould has two parts in total. Also, the inside of the sand mould is relatively rough.

Cost: Cost is essential for an investment and sand cast manufacturer. The cost of investment casting is relatively higher as this technique require wax. But sand casting is a low-cost technique as it only involves sand to create a mould. 

After process: After finishing the process as an investment casting manufacturer in India, you do not have to bear any extra cost or go through extra trouble to smoothen the rough surface, but for sand casting, you have to pay the additional cost. 

Time: Although both can produce at mass level, sand casting takes longer to build and deal with the patches; investment casting is quicker.

Dimensional tolerance: The dimensional tolerance for investment casting is around 0.01(in.), while for sand casting, it is approximately 0.12(in.).

Changing design: You can easily change the design of sand casting, but for investment casting, it is a little bit harder but not impossible. 

So, these are the key differences between investment casting and sand casting; if you are willing to start manufacturing, you should be aware of them.

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