As a premier OEM casting manufacturer, Zhaoyuqi offers high-performance investment casting castings designed for durability and precision. Our lost wax casting process is ideal for creating complex custom metal parts with tight tolerances and superior surface finishes.
Core Process: Precision Investment Casting (Lost Wax)
Material Grades: Ductile Iron, Grey Iron, Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel
Tolerance: CT4 - CT7 (ISO 8062)
Surface Finish: Ra 3.2 - 6.3 μm
Certifications: ISO 9001:2005 Certified Quality Management
Customization: Full OEM/ODM service based on your 2D/3D drawings
Application: Automotive, Power Utilities, Construction, and Valve Industries
Category: Lost Foam Casting
Qingdao Zhaoyuqi Machinery Co., Ltd. provides custom investment casting services for OEM manufacturers, machinery companies, valve and pump manufacturers, industrial equipment suppliers, and engineering companies.
Investment casting, also known as lost wax casting, is suitable for producing metal components with complex geometries, relatively thin sections, integrated features, and detailed surfaces that may be difficult or inefficient to manufacture through conventional machining or standard sand casting.
We manufacture components according to 2D engineering drawings, 3D CAD files, physical samples, and technical specifications. Depending on the material and component design, production can include investment casting, heat treatment, CNC machining, surface finishing, and dimensional inspection.
Our goal is not simply to produce a near-net-shape casting. We evaluate the component geometry, material requirements, critical dimensions, machining requirements, and application conditions so the finished part can be integrated into the customer's assembly.
Send your drawing, CAD model, or sample for a technical evaluation.
Investment casting is a precision metal casting process commonly known as lost wax casting.
A wax or polymer pattern is produced in the shape of the required component. The pattern is then assembled, coated with refractory material, and built into a ceramic shell. After the shell has developed sufficient strength, the pattern is removed, leaving a cavity corresponding to the component geometry.
Molten metal is then poured into the ceramic mold. After solidification, the shell is removed and the individual castings are separated, cleaned, inspected, and further processed when required.
The key advantage of investment casting is its ability to reproduce complex three-dimensional geometry and detailed features with relatively little material removal after casting.
This makes the process particularly interesting for components containing:
Complex curves
Thin sections
Small ribs
Internal passages
Integrated bosses
Irregular profiles
Multiple geometric features
Detailed external surfaces
For OEM buyers, however, the important question is not simply whether investment casting is "more precise."
The better question is:
Is investment casting the right process for this specific component?
Part size, material, annual quantity, geometry, dimensional requirements, tooling cost, machining requirements, and surface expectations should all be considered before selecting the process.
Investment casting is particularly useful when a component has a geometry that would require multiple manufacturing operations if produced from bar stock, plate, or fabricated parts.
For example, a component may contain several:
Curved surfaces
Mounting bosses
Ribs
Holes
Grooves
Internal cavities
Irregular transitions
Producing these features entirely through machining could require significant material removal and multiple setups.
Investment casting can create much of the required geometry during the casting stage, leaving CNC machining primarily for the surfaces and dimensions that actually require tighter control.
The component has complex geometry
A near-net-shape part is desirable
Several features can be integrated into one casting
Machining from solid material would be inefficient
Surface detail is important
The component requires multiple integrated features
OEM repeat production justifies tooling development
The component is very large
Geometry is relatively simple
Production volume is extremely low
Sand casting can already achieve the required result
Machining from standard stock is more practical
This process-selection approach is important for B2B buyers because the "most advanced" casting process is not necessarily the most economical or technically appropriate process for every component.
Customers often ask which casting process is better.
There is no universal answer.
The correct choice depends on the component.
| Factor | Investment Casting | Sand Casting |
|---|---|---|
| Complex Geometry | Excellent | Good |
| Fine Details | Excellent | More limited |
| Thin Sections | Suitable for many designs | More design-dependent |
| Surface Finish | Generally smoother | Generally rougher |
| Machining Requirement | Can be reduced | Often higher |
| Large Components | Less suitable | More suitable |
| Tooling Consideration | Higher process complexity | Often simpler |
| Typical Use | Detailed precision components | Larger/general industrial castings |
For example, your Gray Iron Castings and Lost Foam Castings pages can be used as alternative process references when a component is not necessarily suited to investment casting.
This is also a good opportunity to guide the customer rather than simply telling them that investment casting is always the better choice.
Material selection should be based on the actual operating conditions of the component.
Depending on the project and required casting process, material options may include:
Stainless steel can be considered when corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, or temperature resistance is important.
Common applications may include:
Valve components
Pump components
Marine hardware
Industrial equipment
Corrosion-resistant components
Carbon steel investment castings can be used for components requiring mechanical strength and structural performance.
Typical applications include:
Machinery components
Brackets
Structural connectors
Industrial hardware
Mechanical components
Alloy steel can be considered when the application requires specific mechanical or wear characteristics.
Ductile iron may be considered for suitable cast components where higher strength and toughness are required compared with conventional gray iron.
Gray iron can be evaluated for suitable components where machinability, vibration damping, and compressive performance are important.
If your drawing specifies a particular grade or international standard, please provide it together with the drawing.
The material should be selected based on the component's actual:
Load → Temperature → Corrosion Exposure → Wear → Fatigue → Machining Requirements
Our investment casting service can be used for a wide range of custom OEM components.
Examples include:
Brackets
Connectors
Mounting components
Housings
Levers
Linkages
Mechanical supports
Investment casting can be suitable for complex fluid-handling components such as:
Valve bodies
Valve components
Pump components
Impeller-related parts
Connectors
Fluid control components
Depending on the design and material requirements, investment casting can be used for selected:
Engine components
Mounting components
Structural parts
Mechanical connectors
Brackets
Custom castings can be manufactured for:
Machinery
Power equipment
Material handling equipment
Processing equipment
Engineering machinery
If the component is not listed above, send us the drawing or sample.
The geometry—not the product name—ultimately determines whether investment casting is suitable.
A successful investment casting starts with pattern and process design rather than the pouring operation itself.
We first review:
2D drawings
3D CAD files
Material requirements
Dimensional tolerances
Surface requirements
Machining requirements
Production quantity
For complex components, we also examine wall thickness, cores, transitions, draft, gates, risers, and machining allowances.
A wax or suitable pattern is developed based on the approved component geometry.
Pattern design needs to account for the dimensional changes associated with the casting process.
Individual patterns reproduce the required component geometry.
For repeat production, the pattern tooling is retained for subsequent manufacturing runs.
Individual patterns can be assembled into a tree structure depending on component size, production requirements, and casting system design.
The wax assembly is repeatedly coated with refractory slurry and stucco material.
Multiple layers are built until the ceramic shell reaches the required strength.
The wax pattern is removed from the ceramic shell.
This leaves a cavity corresponding to the final casting geometry.
The ceramic mold is prepared for metal pouring.
The selected alloy is melted according to the specified material requirements and introduced into the mold.
The metal cools and solidifies within the ceramic shell.
Solidification conditions and gating design can influence the final casting quality.
After solidification, the ceramic shell is removed to expose the cast components.
Individual components are separated from the casting tree.
Gates and other unwanted material are removed before further processing.
Where required by the material specification, heat treatment can be used to achieve the required mechanical properties.
Critical surfaces can be machined after casting.
Available operations may include:
Milling
Turning
Drilling
Boring
Tapping
Reaming
Investment casting does not mean that every dimension is automatically finished to final assembly tolerance.
Critical functional surfaces should be identified on the engineering drawing so machining allowances and inspection requirements can be properly considered.
For many OEM components, the most practical solution is not investment casting alone but:
Investment Casting + Precision CNC Machining
Investment casting can establish the overall geometry.
CNC machining can then produce critical:
Holes
Threads
Bores
Bearing seats
Sealing surfaces
Mounting surfaces
Flat surfaces
A typical production route can be:
CAD / Drawing
↓
Pattern Tooling
↓
Wax Pattern
↓
Ceramic Shell
↓
Dewaxing
↓
Metal Pouring
↓
Shell Removal
↓
Cleaning
↓
Heat Treatment
↓
CNC Machining
↓
Inspection
↓
Packaging
This approach allows machining resources to be concentrated on the surfaces that actually affect assembly and performance.
Surface finish and dimensional accuracy depend on factors including:
Pattern quality
Ceramic shell construction
Material
Component geometry
Casting process parameters
Post-casting treatment
Machining requirements
Our current product page states a target surface finish of approximately Ra 3.2–6.3 μm and a casting tolerance range of CT4–CT7. These values should be treated as project-dependent rather than automatically guaranteed for every component.
For a production project, the approved engineering drawing should identify the critical dimensions and tolerances.
Where tighter tolerances are required, CNC machining can be incorporated into the manufacturing route.
Investment casting quality cannot be determined only by looking at the finished surface.
For OEM components, quality control should cover the complete manufacturing chain.
Material is checked according to the specified grade and project requirements.
Chemical composition testing can be arranged for applicable projects to verify alloy requirements.
Critical dimensions are inspected against the approved engineering drawing.
Cast surfaces are checked for visible defects according to agreed inspection criteria.
Where required, mechanical properties can be tested according to the applicable material standard.
Metallographic examination can be performed for applicable projects where microstructure verification is required.
Machined holes, threads, bores, flat surfaces, and other functional features can be inspected after machining.
Finished components are checked before packaging and shipment.
Inspection reports and material documentation can be provided according to project requirements.
You do not need to prepare a complicated RFQ before contacting us.
For an initial evaluation, please provide as much of the following as possible:
A drawing with dimensions, tolerances, material, and surface requirements is preferred.
STEP, STP, IGES, or another compatible CAD format can help us evaluate complex geometry.
Tell us the required alloy or international standard if already specified.
Investment casting tooling and production economics can depend significantly on expected volume.
Identify the surfaces that must meet specific tolerances.
Tell us which areas require CNC machining.
Specify any required:
Polishing
Shot blasting
Painting
Coating
Passivation
Other finishing
If possible, tell us what the component does and what environment it operates in.
This information allows us to evaluate the process based on the actual component, rather than making a generic recommendation.
Investment castings can be found across a wide range of engineering applications.
Engine, transmission, structural, and mechanical components.
Complex fluid-handling and control components.
Precision mechanical components, brackets, housings, and connectors.
Components requiring defined geometry and mechanical performance.
Selected mechanical and structural components.
Components requiring appropriate corrosion resistance and mechanical performance.
Custom mechanical components and equipment fittings.
We manufacture according to customer drawings, CAD models, samples, and technical requirements.
Our broader foundry capability includes coated sand, clay sand, and lost foam casting, allowing different manufacturing approaches to be considered rather than forcing every component into one process.
CNC machining can be incorporated when the casting requires accurately machined functional surfaces.
Material, dimensional, machining, and surface inspections can be arranged according to project requirements.
We support international customers with technical communication, production coordination, quality documentation, packaging, and shipment arrangements.
If investment casting is not the most appropriate solution for your component, our broader casting capabilities allow the manufacturing route to be evaluated according to geometry, material, quantity, and required accuracy.
这一点其实非常适合你的网站——不要告诉客户“我们什么都能做”，而是告诉客户“我们会帮你判断什么工艺更适合你的零件”。
Investment casting, also called lost wax casting, is a precision casting process that uses a disposable wax or polymer pattern and ceramic shell to reproduce complex metal components.
Depending on the project, investment casting can be used with materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, ductile iron, gray iron, and other specified alloys.
Investment casting can generally reproduce finer details and smoother surfaces than conventional sand casting, but the appropriate process depends on the specific component and required tolerances.
Yes. CNC machining can be added to produce critical holes, threads, bores, mounting surfaces, and other functional dimensions.
Yes. OEM investment castings can be manufactured according to 2D drawings, 3D CAD files, samples, and technical specifications.
An existing physical component can be provided for technical evaluation. Reverse-engineering requirements should be discussed before tooling and production.
MOQ depends on the component geometry, tooling requirements, material, and expected production volume. Send us the component information for project evaluation.
Lead time depends on tooling, component complexity, material, production quantity, machining, and inspection requirements. A project-specific schedule can be confirmed after technical review.
Yes. Inspection and material documentation can be provided according to the agreed project requirements.
Send your 2D drawing, 3D CAD file, sample information, material specification, quantity, and machining requirements. Our engineering team can evaluate the project and recommend an appropriate manufacturing route.
Have a complex metal component that is difficult to manufacture using conventional methods?
Send us the drawing or CAD file.
Our team can evaluate:
Geometry → Material → Casting Process → Tooling → Machining → Inspection
You do not need to determine the entire manufacturing process before contacting us.
Qingdao Zhaoyuqi Machinery Co., Ltd. can help evaluate whether investment casting is appropriate for your component and whether additional CNC machining or another casting process would provide a better manufacturing solution.
Professional technical research and development team to provide customers with the best solution.
Jimo District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China
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