CF8M AISI 316 Stainless Steel Casting by Lost Wax Investment Casting

CF8M is defined in ASMT A351, ASMT A743 and ASTM A744, which is for casting purpose only. SS 316 is defined in ASTM A240 and ASTM A276, it's for plate, sheet, strip or stainless steel bars. Another grade is named as F316, which is from ASTM A182 for forged parts only. TP316 will be found in ATSTM A376 for pipe only. The main applications of CF8M cast stainless steel cover: impellers, propellers, pump casings, valve bodies and press plates.

Lost wax investment casting is a method of precision casting complex near-net-shape details using replication of wax patterns. Investment casting or lost wax casting or precision casting is a metal forming process that typically uses a wax pattern surrounded by a ceramic shell to make a ceramic mold. When the shell dries, the wax is melted away, leaving only the mold. Then the casting component is formed by pouring molten metal into the ceramic mold. The most widely-used materials of stainless steel mainly include (but not limited to): Stainless Steel: AISI 304, AISI 304L, AISI 316, AISI 316L, 1.4404, 1.4301 and other stainless steel grade.

The investment casting is suitable for repeatable production of net shape components from a variety of different metals and high performance alloys. Although generally used for small castings, this process has been used to produce complete aircraft door frames, with steel castings of up to 500 kgs and aluminium castings of up to 50 kgs. Compared to other casting processes such as die casting or sand casting, it can be an expensive process. However, the components that can be produced using investment casting can incorporate intricate contours, and in most cases the components are cast near net shape, so require little or no rework once cast.

▶ Advantages of Stainless Steel Casting by Lost Wax Investment Process:
• Excellent and smooth surface finish
• Tight dimensional tolerances.
• Complex and intricate shapes with design flexibility
• Capability to cast thin walls therefore a lighter casting component
• Wide selection of cast metals and alloys (ferrous and non-ferrous)
• Draft is not required in the molds design.
• Reduce the need for secondary machining.
• Low material waste.

▶ Why You Choose RMC for Custom Lost Wax Investment Casting?
• Full solution from one single supplier ranging customized pattern design to finished castings and secondary process including CNC machining, heat treatment and surface treatment.
• Costdown proposals from our professional engineers based on your unique requirement.
• Short leadtime for prototype, trial casting and any possible technical improvement.
• Bonded Materials: Silica Col, Water Glass and their mixtures.
• Manufacturing flexibility for small orders to mass orders.
• Strong outsourcing manufacturing capabilities.