STAINLESS STEEL CASTING

Applications of SS 304 Investment Casting

Medical Devices: Surgical instruments, implants, and dental equipment.

Food and Beverage: Equipment components such as valves, fittings, and pumps.

Automotive: Engine components, exhaust parts, and structural elements.

Aerospace: Turbine blades, structural components, and fasteners.

Industrial Machinery: Pump components, impellers, and housings.

Consumer Goods: Hand tools, hardware, and decorative items.

Advance Information*

Product Overview

Stainless steel casting is a highly versatile and robust production method used to create intricate and precise metal components. Specifically, this description covers the investment casting process for SS 304 stainless steel, a material noted for its excellent corrosion resistance, durability, and ease of fabrication. SS 304 investment casting is widely employed across various industries due to its mechanical properties and structural integrity.

Investment Casting Process for SS 304

The investment casting process, also known as precision casting or lost-wax casting, is a highly efficient and accurate manufacturing technique. Here's a detailed breakdown of the steps involved in the SS 304 investment casting process:

Pattern Creation

• Wax Patterns: Initially, a wax pattern that replicates the final part's geometry is meticulously crafted. This pattern is an exact model of the desired SS 304 component.

Assembly

• Wax Trees: To optimize production, multiple wax patterns are assembled onto a single wax tree. This allows for the simultaneous casting of numerous identical parts, enhancing efficiency.

Shell Building

• Ceramic Slurry Dipping: The wax tree is repetitively coated with a ceramic slurry. Each dip creates a layer, and this process is repeated until a robust ceramic shell encases the wax patterns.

Wax Removal

• Heating: The ceramic shell is subjected to high heat, causing the wax to melt and drain away. This leaves behind a hollow ceramic mold, ready for metal pouring.

Metal Pouring

• Molten SS 304: The hollow ceramic mold is filled with molten SS 304 stainless steel. The metal flows into every intricate cavity of the mold, ensuring precise replication of the wax pattern.

Cooling

• Solidification: The metal-filled mold is allowed to cool naturally. As it cools, the molten SS 304 solidifies, taking the shape of the final component.

Shell Removal

• Breaking the Mold: The ceramic shell is carefully broken away, revealing the newly cast SS 304 part.

Finishing

• Cleaning and Final Touches: The newly cast part undergoes a series of finishing processes, including cleaning, machining, and polishing. These steps ensure the part meets the required specifications and surface finish criteria.

Applications of SS 304 Investment Casting

SS 304 investment casting finds extensive applications across various domains due to its outstanding properties:

Medical Devices

• Surgical Instruments: Precision-crafted instruments used in surgical procedures depend on the durability and corrosion resistance of SS 304.
• Implants: Biocompatible implants are manufactured using SS 304 for its non-reactivity with bodily fluids.
• Dental Equipment: High-precision dental tools and components are crafted from SS 304.

Food and Beverage

• Equipment Components: Components such as valves, fittings, and pumps are manufactured from SS 304 to ensure hygienic and durable solutions for food and beverage processing equipment.

Automotive

• Engine Components: SS 304's ability to withstand high temperatures makes it suitable for critical engine parts.
• Exhaust Parts: Components in exhaust systems are often cast using SS 304 to endure extreme conditions.
• Structural Elements: SS 304 is used in various structural components of vehicles for its strength and durability.

Aerospace

• Turbine Blades: The high strength and fatigue resistance of SS 304 make it ideal for manufacturing turbine blades.
• Structural Components: SS 304 is utilized in the construction of aerospace structural components that demand reliability and longevity.
• Fasteners: Aerospace-grade fasteners are crafted from SS 304 for their superior performance.

Industrial Machinery

• Pump Components: SS 304 casting is used to create pump components, including impellers and housings, due to its exceptional wear resistance.
• Impellers: The precise nature of investment casting is ideal for the complex designs of impellers.
• Housings: SS 304 is utilized for crafting robust and durable housing components.

Consumer Goods

• Hand Tools: High-quality, durable hand tools are often cast from SS 304.
• Hardware: Various hardware components utilize the benefits of SS 304 for resilience and longevity.
• Decorative Items: SS 304's aesthetic appeal and corrosion resistance make it a popular choice for decorative items.

Technical Specifications

Material: SS 304 Stainless Steel

• Composition: Chromite (Cr) 18-20%, Nickel (Ni) 8-10.5%, Carbon (C) 0.08% max, others.
• Density: ~8.0 g/cm³.
• Tensile Strength: 515-750 MPa.
• Corrosion Resistance: Exceptional, particularly in humid and wet conditions.
• Heat Resistance: Can withstand temperatures up to