FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions by Shelmet Customers
Precision and Versatility in Investment Casting: Shelmet Precision Casting excels in capturing intricate details, capable of integrating complex designs, from thumbprints to logos, directly into cast finishes. This process surpasses the limitations of traditional machining, offering unparalleled detail in your final product significantly lowering initial tooling costs.
Industry-Leading Standards and Alloy Range: We provide exceptional surface quality and are committed to delivering with over 98% on-time performance. Shelmet pours more than 100 alloys and customer-specific requests, ensuring a perfect match for your project’s distinct requirements.
Shelmet’s comprehensive alloy selection includes various steels, cobalt base, nickel base, aluminum base, copper base, and custom options upon request. Request a no-obligation, free process and alloy consultation today!
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What is investment casting?
Investment casting, also known as precision casting or lost-wax casting, is a process used to create detailed and accurate metal parts.
- Model Creation: The process starts with creating a wax model, identical to the desired final product.
- Mold Making: The wax model is then coated with a refractory ceramic material, which hardens to form a mold.
- Wax Removal: The wax is melted and drained away, leaving a hollow ceramic mold.
- Metal Pouring: Molten metal is poured into the ceramic mold’s cavity, previously occupied by the wax model.
- Solidification: Once the metal solidifies, the ceramic mold is broken away to reveal the metal part.
- Finishing Touches: The resulting metal part requires minimal finishing work, due to the process’s ability to produce components with precise shapes and smooth finishes.
Which alloys do you pour?
Shelmet specializes in investment casting with a focus on more than 100 alloys to meet our customers’ needs.
The most frequently requested materials include various steels (especially stainless steels), cobalt base, nickel base, aluminum base, copper base, and carbon steels, alloy steels, and tool steels.
Seasonal demands slightly adjust this preferred list, reflecting shifts in industry requirements.
In addition to these commonly requested materials, Shelmet also casts in cobalt, responding to a growing demand for hard metals, and high-performance parts. This adaptability allows us to cater to specialized and advanced engineering applications, ensuring solutions for even the most challenging projects.
For customer-specific custom alloys, please contact us with your preferred requirements to receive a free process analysis.
Our commitment to quality is underscored by adherence to ISO 9001 industry standards, a practice that has secured Shelmet a remarkable record of 98%+ flawless parts and service. Every Shelmet client receives exceptional quality consistently across each order.
Capability of Investment Casting to Create Detailed Parts: How Intricate Can I Get?
Investment casting excels in manufacturing parts with complex designs and high detail,
allowing for the creation of finely detailed shapes in a single casting process with high-quality surface finishes.
What Tolerances Can Be Achieved at Shelmet Precision Investment Casting?
At Shelmet, the precision investment casting process can obtain tight tolerances, typically within +/- .005 of an inch, and in some situations even better. The exact tolerances we achieve depend on the design of the casting.
FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions by Shelmet Customers
01. How do I choose the right metal or alloy for my project?
Questions? Call Shelmet customer service.
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We offer free alloy and process recommendations based on your project requirements, desired mechanical properties, and budget considerations. Very often we save our customers much time and casting costs.
02. What is the maximum size you can cast?
Shelmet is a small to medium product run size investment casting company. We can cast parts up to about 20# short-runs, and some that are less than a fraction of an ounce. However, the ‘sweet spot’ that we cast at Shelmet are parts that fit in the palm of your hand.
03. What Surface Quality Can Be Expected from Investment Castings?
Shelmet Investment Casting delivers superior surface quality. This casting method results in standard surface finishes around 125 rms or better. Finer finishes are possible through additional finishing processes.
04. How are Investment Castings more cost effective than other casting methods
Startup tooling costs for investment casting is typically less than other casting processes. Shorter part runs, especially for startup projects, reduces tied up capital cost substantially.
05. What Industries Do You Serve?
We serve most every industry, including a wide range of specific metal castings in agricultural, automotive, food processing equipment, medical, marine, oil & gas, energy, water movement and more.
Our versatility in casting a variety of alloys makes us suitable for many different industrial applications.
06. Do You Offer Rapid Prototyping in investment casting?
Yes, Shelmet provides rapid prototype-to-production capabilities in precision investment casting, requiring only a 3-D model to efficiently produce parts, bypassing the extensive time and associated costs with traditional tooling.
07. What Are Your Lead Times?
We provide honest lead times with an on-time delivery percentage higher than 98%.
Typically tooling with samples is 4 weeks. Casting production is four to five weeks. Lead times are fluid.
Feel free to call a Shelmet project manager now with a few specifics of your project and discover how fast your project can materialize.
08. Can Investment Casting Manage Complex Geometries?
One of the key strengths of investment casting is its ability to create parts with highly intricate shapes and detailed internal structures, which might be challenging or impossible to achieve with other processes.
At Shelmet, we can cast your thumbprint and put it into a finish. Detail can be cast in that physically is impossible to machine.
09. Do You Offer International Shipping?
Yes, Shelmet Precision Casting Co., Inc ships to a large number of countries around the world.