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Stainless steel boasts incredibly appealing looks, corrosion resistance and durability and is therefore widely used in consumer and industrial markets. Moreover, steel casting technology offers numerous advantages, including improved energy efficiency, low manufacturing costs and enhanced environmental quality. Consequently, it is one of the most integral components in making combustion engines, mining machinery, valves, steel pipes, etc. Besides, the steel investment casting industry reduces scrap metal as it is recycled and utilized as a cost-efficient source of raw materials. Steel investment casting – Global marketplace economic pressure Recent metal casting research has led to incredible advancements and discoveries in the steel casting industry. Global marketplace economic pressure has made this even better by providing a conducive environment for a steel casting foundry. They do this by rewarding creative innovation, efficiency and consistency, pushing the foundries to enhance their manufacturing processes, produce quality results and keep up with the demands. Some of the most recent developments in the steel casting industry include the introduction of lost foam casting, lost wax casting and computer-based visualization tools designed for die casters in an attempt to devise alternative moulding techniques. The state-of-the-art casting technologies allow foundry researchers to design and create defective-free and quality steel castings while still researching the details of advanced casting process parameters. Lost Wax Casting Also referred to as investment casting, the lost wax casting is an incredibly versatile process involving using a wax pattern to create a single part or an entire product design. The process has been widely used over the years as precision casting or lost wax, thanks to its accuracy and ease in recreating parts with accurate and precise tolerances. Besides steel, lost wax casting also uses other materials, including stainless steel, beryllium copper, ductile iron, cobalt, aluminium, brass, nickel and bronze. Thanks to its accuracy, precision and versatility, the process is used in creating various parts with close tolerances, intricate details and thin walls. Some industries that rely on the lost wax steel casting process include automotive, aerospace, chemical, oil and gas, food, power, medical, etc. The Benefits of Lost Wax Casting Most engineers choose the lost wax steel investment casting method as it allows them the versatility to create complex and intricate designs without worrying about shrinkage and the extra task of post-process finishing. Other benefits of this technology include:
The Lost Foam Technology in the Steel Investment Casting Industry The lost foam steel investment casting technology involves creating complex metal components whereby molten metal is allowed to evaporate via a foam mold held and maintained by sand. The process starts with polyester foam mold derived from a foam block, carved and finally manufactured through an injection moulding process. Some of the common benefits of the lost foam technology include:
The low maintenance cost, appealing designs and durability of steel investment casting products make it an integral part of various industries. European, North American and Asia Pacific companies dominate the steel casting industries thanks to their sophisticated equipment and advanced knowledge and expertise in the field.
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