6. Investment casting

In this section, we have grouped together molding processes that use meltable patterns (polystyrene, wax, etc.) remaining in the mold at the time of manufacture, and which are subsequently removed either during casting (in the case of polystyrene) or before casting, by heating the mold (in the case of wax or frozen mercury).

Keeping models in the mold simplifies molding operations, eliminates the need for cores, and makes it easier to produce complex shapes by allowing for undercuts, eliminating the need for demolding. These processes not only improve the dimensional accuracy of the resulting parts, but also reduce part weight and increase productivity, thereby significantly reducing production costs.

In recent years, these processes have undergone significant development, particularly in the case of polystyrene applied to mass-produced...