What does "Investment Cast" mean?

[Mark42]

Looking at a stainless steel Gas Deck Fill. It is described as "Investment Cast 316 Stainless" What does that mean?

 

[bese6197]

Re: What does "Investment Cast" mean?

Investment casting is a process to manufacture the part your looking at. There are several casting processes for different materials and different production volumes. Die casting is another common form of casting a part. Investment casting is very precise, and is used when it is difficult to machine a metal or when it is desired to not need to machine the part at all. Let me know if you would like more information on this, I can look up some detail in some of the books I have.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: What does "Investment Cast" mean?

I think it refers to the quality of the steel. ( I googled it.)

 

[Laddies]

Re: What does "Investment Cast" mean?

Investment casting of S/S is the process of taking a ceramic mold of a object and pouring the S/S into the ceramic mold to make a exact copy without requiring machining. Mercury Marine uses it in their S/S wheels.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: What does "Investment Cast" mean?

I think it refers to the quality of the steel. ( I googled it.)

316 is the alloy of stainless used (quality of steel)

 

[i386]

Re: What does "Investment Cast" mean?

Funny how you never hear something then you hear it twice. I'd never heard of it before until just last night. I was reading a review of an HK pistol and the author mentioned one of the parts being investment cast.

 

[Mark42]

Re: What does "Investment Cast" mean?

Investment casting of S/S is the process of taking a ceramic mold of a object and pouring the S/S into the ceramic mold to make a exact copy without requiring machining. Mercury Marine uses it in their S/S wheels.

This is a gas fill deck plate. I have one and was thinking of ordering another. They look like the only machining done is for the threaded cap, and polishing the exposed surface. Most of it is not machined. Thanks.