Search for small Lost investment Caster

[Irondesign]

I am trying to find the best way to find a small Lost Investment Caster, as my volume presently is not that high.

12 - 24 piece at a time, each about 1" wide by about 6" long. The reason for investment casting is that they are hollow and have a compound curve in two directions.

We have printed this in PLA on a 3D printer so feel pretty good about its final shape.
Picture a tapered front bike yoke only a lot shorter.

Casting material needs to be as strong as 4130N or 17-4PH, and will be welded into a assembly.

Some of the brand new wax-type materials should work great... but I don't care how it gets made, just the end product and price.

any help would be great.

Scott
ps All the CAD work has been done.

 

[arunmrao]

@Irondesgn,,
There should be some of the 3D printing companies get interested in your needs.

Have you tried 3D printing the wax pattern for your parts. I believe, once the wax pattern is available, getting a mould made and poured .

Can you contact American Foundry Society, who could very easily assist you.

Happy Casting.

"Even,if you are a minority of one, truth is the truth."

Mahatma Gandhi.

 

[Irondesign]

Thanks Mahatma Gandhi.
Yes, I could contact them, when I went to that web site, it took me "again" into a huge world of casting. But getting in narrowed down to the lost investment casters of strong metals is the key and it will take time I'm sure.

In case anyone was interested, there was a few 3D metal printer folks that contacted me, but the cost for the part easily was going up over $200 each... and this was for a part that is presently much less, but hard to control quality on.

The search continues
Scott

 

[EdStainless]

Irondesign,
Where are you located?
Getting the waxes printed, and then having parts cast is likely the best small volume route.
I know a few guys.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[Irondesign]

EdStainless,
I am in NorthEast Iowa and your thoughts are my intentions for sure.
With the shipping ways, and the technology that we have today for file sending.

This could be done by one company, or printed in one place, then sent to second place and then to me... am very open to all this.

Scott

 

[arunmrao]

Please visit Additive Manufacturing Centre of Northern Iowa University and meet Prof Jerry Thiel . A great guy who will come to your rescue.




"Even,if you are a minority of one, truth is the truth."

Mahatma Gandhi.

 

[CWB1]

The reason for investment casting is that they are hollow and have a compound curve in two directions.

I would highly recommend letting a good prototype foundry dictate the process. When I worked in a foundry customers were regularly amazed by what the level of detail, quality, and accuracy that we could put directly into sand.

 

[TheTick]

A bit outside, but perhaps a jewelry maker might be of use?

 

[Irondesign]

CWB1 Yes, I absolutely was NOT planning to dictate how it should be done, simply looking for the Lost investment Caster company that would/could do the work

TheTick- I might be wrong, but as of yet I have never found a jewelry maker willing to do high strength steels.

arunmrao - Yes, I need to revisit Jerry T. ... that is a great place for new ideas. And not far away.

 

[btrueblood]

Thomas Register online should also be a pretty good source for investment foundries. You don't necessarily want to find a small shop, just one that has a prototyping shop as part of their service. Short runs are pretty common for investment foundries. FWIW, my first investment casting design was done by a very small shop, operated by the son who was on the outs with his dad who operated a much bigger shop. Today, the son has closed his shop (took over after dad retired?)...

 

[The Obturator]

Try LESTERCAST in the UK. Small jobs & Rapid Prototyping & special alloys a speciality lestercast.co.uk

Per ISO, only the term Safety Valve is used regardless of application or design.

 

[EdStainless]

You can also try talking with these guys

http://www.oicc-co.com/

I have worked with them and they did a nice job.

The other option for tool-less work is to use a machinable wax and carve these out on a 5-axis machine.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[CWB1]

CWB1 Yes, I absolutely was NOT planning to dictate how it should be done, simply looking for the Lost investment Caster company that would/could do the work

No, you're quite literally dictating process by saying you need this part to be investment cast. Unnecessary requirements are the biggest drivers of cost, so unless you have enough firsthand casting experience (IOW you've worked in a foundry) to say with certainty that it absolutely must be investment cast then I'd highly recommend shopping it to a variety of foundry types and allowing them to choose the best process for the part. Casting has come a long way in recent years.