Investment casting

Seriennahe Feinguss-Bauteile aus verschiedenen Werkstoffen

Depending on the number of pieces and geometry, we use classic (silicone & aluminium tooling) and 3D printing processes for model production.

Investment casting is a primary moulding process for the production of castings that are subject to the highest demands in terms of dimensional tolerance, detail accuracy and surface quality.  It is suitable for the production of single pieces and small series and is often used for prototypes.

For investment casting, disposable moulds, so-called lost moulds, are used, which are manufactured at NRU GmbH. To produce our ceramic moulds, we work with wax models and printed PMMA models. First, the 3D data is prepared by our CAD department and, if necessary, optimised in consultation with you. Our experts create the 3D model taking into account the production-specific boundary conditions, select the appropriate manufacturing process, the shell moulding process or the compact moulding process, and design the required casting system.

The models produced in this way are then combined to form a model cluster. After the models have been melted out, a cavity is created which reproduces the casting geometry. The model shell is then fired and is then directly available for casting. The actual casting is then carried out in centrifugal, vacuum and gravity casting processes.

With the help of our automated robot shell production, we can flexibly realise batch sizes from a single piece to a series of 1000 castings with a mass of 1 g to 6 kg. In doing so, we meet the accuracies according to the BDG guideline VDG leaflet P690.

Our great advantage is our range of materials. We are able to use almost all casting alloys and also to gate them ourselves. As standard, we produce castings from various steels as well as metals and their alloys, for example: Nickel, Cobalt, Titanium, Aluminium or Zinc. You can find a list of our materials here. If you cannot find the material you are looking for, please contact us. We will then look for a solution.

We will be happy to support you from CAD design to production and mechanical processing.

Our investment casting services at a glance

• Investment casting using lost and 3D-printed models
• Mould production using the shell and compact moulding process
• Casting using centrifugal, vacuum and gravity casting processes
• Components in all material classes
• Accuracies according to BDG guideline VDG leaflet P690

Casting metal in lost ceramic moulds is one of our core competences. We are able to use almost all casting alloys or to gate them ourselves. Numerous steels, nickel or cobalt-based alloys as well as copper, titanium, aluminium or zinc alloys can be cast at NRU. Printed PMMA or wax models are available to us here as lost models. With the help of our automated robot shell production, we can flexibly realise batch sizes from a single piece to a series of 1000 castings with a mass of 1 g to 6 kg.