At Dean Group, we have been providing specialised metalworking services, including lost wax casting since 1972. We pride ourselves on being able to tackle technically challenging projects and to supply you with the parts you need. We only use the highest quality materials and we inspect every product we manufacture.
We are happy to discuss your requirements, designs, our capabilities, help advise on the best manufacturing process for your needs or just tell you more about our metal casting foundry.
Investment castings, also known as lost wax castings, are formed by a traditional process, which has been used for centuries to produce detailed, intricate metal parts and components. Compared to other manufacturing methods, it is a cost-effective way of producing intricate products, providing significant design flexibility, with excellent dimensional accuracy and surface finish.
The investment casting process uses a detailed wax pattern, produced from a master tool, which is then coated with a layer of refractory ceramic slurry to create a solid shell. The wax pattern is melted out, and the molten metal is poured into the shell. Once the metal has cooled and set, the shell is removed and the part can be finished and quality-checked.
3D printing can be used to rapidly prototype the initial wax pattern, which can then be used for testing and validation before moving on to full-scale production.
Allows many intricate and complex forms to be cast. The repetitive close tolerances, intricate passages and contours allow for the most complex of forms to be created using investment casting. The same configurations are not possible when using machine tools to create parts.
The resulting parts are moulded in a single casting, therefore they have smooth surfaces with no parting lines.
Alloys such as aluminium, bronze, magnesium, cast iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel can be used, as well as difficult to machine materials.
Parts have good dimensional accuracy. Combining the materials in one casting is less complex than what is involved when welding or fabricating parts together to form a whole.
Allows for both low and high-volume manufacturing.
The cost of production is reduced since waste is minimal and it doesn’t require too much assembly.
It’s also possible to add names, logos or numbers to the parts.
90-degree angles can be cast with no shrinkage allowance needed.
Investment casting is a flexible process, offering competitive production costs against relatively low tooling outlay, in the full range of materials and with low, medium and high volume production capabilities. Due to the tooling construction and manufacturing process, there is a high level of design flexibility and dimensional accuracy. This results in lower post-cast process costs.
In addition to our investment casting, Dean Group are able to offer a selection of other services, including die casting, pressure die casting, metal injection moulding, and forging. This allows us to provide the most appropriate metalworking process for your project’s needs.