Development history of lost wax casting

Investment casting is developed on the basis of ancient wax casting. As an ancient civilization, China is one of the countries that used this technology earlier. As early as hundreds of years ago, the working people in ancient China created this wax losing precision casting technology, which was used to precision cast bell tripods and utensils with various fine patterns and characters, such as the zunpan in the tomb of Marquis Yi in spring and autumn. The base of the zunpan of the tomb of marquis Zeng Yi is a number of intertwined dragons, which are connected end to end and staggered up and down to form a multi-layer cloud pattern with hollowed out in the middle. These patterns are difficult to be produced by the ordinary precision casting process. However, the wax loss method precision casting process can make use of the characteristics of the wax that is not strong and easy to carve, and can carve out the wax like crafts with ordinary tools, Then add a pouring system, coating, dewaxing and pouring, and you can get a beautiful tomb of Marquis Yi.

The modern investment casting method was actually applied in industrial production in the 1940s. At that time, the development of aero-jet engines required the manufacture of heat-resistant alloy parts with complex shapes, accurate dimensions and smooth surfaces, such as blades, impellers and nozzles. Because heat-resistant alloy materials are difficult to machine and parts are complex in shape, so it is impossible or difficult to manufacture by other methods. Therefore, it is necessary to find a new precise molding process. Therefore, it is necessary to learn from the lost wax precision casting handed down in ancient times. Through the improvement of materials and processes, the modern investment casting method has obtained important development on the basis of the ancient technology. Therefore, the development of aviation industry promotes the application of investment casting, and the continuous improvement and perfection of investment casting also create favorable conditions for the aviation industry to further improve its performance.

China began to apply investment casting to industrial production in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then, this advanced precision casting technology has been greatly developed, and has been widely used in aviation, automobile, machine tool, ship, internal combustion engine, gas turbine, telecommunication equipment, weapons, medical equipment and cutting tools, and also in the manufacture of arts and crafts.