What is lost foam casting process?
Lost-foam casting is a type of evaporative-pattern casting process that is similar to investment casting except foam is used for the pattern instead of wax. The lost foam casting techniques take advantage of the low boiling point of polymer foams to simplify the investment casting process by removing the need of melt the wax out of the mold. Compared with investment casting method and sand casting techniques, lost foam casting is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly metal casting process for creating complex and intricate metal parts by using a foam pattern that evaporates when molten metal is poured into it:
| Lost foam casting process | |
| Create the foam pattern | Create the foam pattern: The pattern is made from pre-expanded polystyrene (EPS) that is heated in an aluminum die to expand and fuse the beads. The pattern can be carved, machined, or created using injection molding. |
| Coat the foam | A ceramic refractory coating is applied to the foam to protect it from the sand and create a barrier |
| Compact the sand | The foam pattern is placed in a flask and surrounded by unbonded sand, which is compacted using a vibration table. |
| Pour the metal | Pour the metal: Molten metal is poured into the flask, causing the foam to evaporate and leaving behind the metal |
| Remove the coating | Remove the coating: The refractory coating is removed to expose the metal part. |
| Surface treatment | Sandblasting and machine process. |
Advantage of lost foam casting technique
Lost foam casting technique has the ability to create full, net-shape patterns with unparalleled dimensional accuracy and precision. And lost foam casting process can reduce the tooling cost, improve surface finish and minimal waste. Baoding Guokun can use lost foam casting process to produce various parts for automotive, marine, agriculture, military, motor and pump, and heavy truck applications.
Disadvantage of lost foam casting
Lost foam casting has a few disadvantages, including: high pattern costs, easily damaged patterns and non-reusable molds.
Baoding Guokun is a professional motor castings factory of motor shell, motor housing, and motor casing with tight tolerance, no leakage and wear-resistance in grey cast iron ASTM A48 and aluminum alloys.
The motor shell is the outer motor housing to protect the internal motor components from dust, moisture, and other environmental factors while also helping to dissipate heat generated during operation. Essentially, the motor casing is the motor outer shell that holds everything together and safeguards the inner workings.
Usually, the material of motor housing is cast iron ASTM A48 for the larger motor casing. But the material is no longer limited to steel and pig iron as in the past, the thin and lightweight stainless steel and aluminum alloy are also more popular. Baoding Guokun can choose the suitable metal for your electric motor housings depending on your motor’s application and required strength. We have been in casting industry for more than 25 years, majoring in investment casting, sand casting, lost foam casting and precision machining for pump, valve, marine, medical, food industry, agriculture, tillage, motor, power, etc.
A High Quality China Metal Casting Foundry！
Guokun Casting, of Baoding Hebei is an ISO 9001-2008 registered iron and steel foundry & supplier of high quality carbon steel, cast iron and machined castings used in power, mining, railway, agricultural, tillage, truck, automobile, pump, valve, motor, pipe fittings and gear industry. we also can offer investment casting and sand casting process for your custom metal products.
With a montly capacity of 10,000kgs and with more than 15 years of experience ensure the short delivery and the highest valued iron & steel casting parts.
Pump casting, Valve casting, agricultural casting, aircraft casting, railway casting, road casting, motor casting, mining casting, boiler casting, power generation investment casting, Medical casting, marine industry casting
Baoding Guokun Machinery Co., Ltd.
Baoding Guokun Export and Import Trading Co., Ltd
Office Add: 777# Chaoyang South Street, Baoding City, Hebei, 071000, China
Factory Address: Wangdu County, Baoding City, Hebei, 071000, China
Website: www.metalcastingfactory.com
Tel: 86-312-5951319 Fax: 86-312-5951296
Phone: 86-181 3278 9710 (WhatsApp & WeChat)
Email: gina@guokuncasting.com
Baoding Guokun Machining Equipment