The Investment Casting Process is often called the "lost wax process" and is the most common method used to cast products made of titanium and steel alloys.
Each part begins with a die, which is often made using an investment casting process from a brass master of the product being produced.
A wax pattern is made inside the die, that is the exact shape of the piece being manufactured.
The pattern is coated with ceramic material - in a process known as "investing" - and the wax is then melted away. This "lost wax" process leaves a ceramic shell or mold remaining, that will be filled with liquid metal.
Once the liquid metal solidifies, the shell is broken away, leaving the cast product ready to be finished.
Finishing often includes milling steps such as boring out the hosel, or milling the face or grooves on higher quality irons.
| Wax is injected into the pre-formed die. |  |
| The wax pattern is removed from the two-piece die. |  |
| Multiple wax patterns are gated together, or attached to a sprue or tree. |  |
| The sprue is dipped into a ceramic slurry |  |
| The ceramic coated sprue is now coated with refractory sand. The cluster may be repeatedly coated in ceramic slurry and sand until a mold with a suitable wall thickness coating is formed. |  |
| The mold is heated to remove all of the wax. This step may include firing the ceramic in an oven to burn out any wax remnants. |  |
| Molten metal is poured into the ceramic/sand mold. |  |
| The shell molds are removed from the castings - they will not be reused. |  |
| The individual castings are cut from the sprue or tree. |  |
| The individual finished pieces are ready for final treatment. |  |
Tim Hewitt, myOstrich Golf
The images in this article were originally published by Ruger Golf and are Copyright 2000, Ruger Investment Casting Company, Inc
