The diversification of the investment casting industry is far more nebulous. It is, in fact, only explainable by saying that where industry has grown investment casting usage has grown too.


The transportation industries continue to lead all other markets in the use of investment castings. Aircraft, that is, engines and engine parts, airframes, aircraft parts, and auxiliary equipment and missile parts and equipment is the top dollar leader in investment casting usage within this category.


The transportation industries are followed in usage volume by the ordnance market (including missiles), and by processing equipment and consumer product parts, as well as metalworking and special industry markets.


Electronics uses are also widespread. Radio and television signaling equipment is but a single area of diversification and growth.


From this breakdown of industries which investment casting serves, it is most evident that the Federal government is among the major users of investment castings.


The Government and. other users, including those which manufacture machine tools, compressors, food processing equipment, missile parts, and signaling equipment, have become almost totally aware of investment castings and their advantages.


Single unit construction with minimal stress concentrations, good load carrying ability, and economical production of many of the most complex and involved castings are but a few of these advantages. In addition, a minimum amount of surface machining is required on many cast parts.


On the following pages are some case histories which illustrate the vast diversi- fication of investment casting usage. They dissolve the myths of investment casting and help to point out that quality+ economy= investment cast parts.


Hydraulic Valve


Pumping Chamber Vane A cost savings of approximately 10% was achieved by Casting Engineers when the investment casting process was used to produce this hydraulic valve pumping chamber vane.


Previously machined from bar stock, investment castings significantly reduced costly machining operations without any sacrifice in the detail of the design. Also the alloy and abrasion resistance required were important factors in the selection of the process.


The chamber vane is delivered as-cast after anneal and carbon restoration heat treatment. The part is cast in M-2 tool steel. Weight of the casting is 3 ounces and the size is l"x2"xl,4". Surface finish is 60 RMS.


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