In-house component precision and functionality

<p>Signicast offers in-house machining that reduces costs, streamlines your supply chain, and accelerates your project’s time-to-market.</p>

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Signicast has a dedicated internal machining team with specialised knowledge in machining castings.

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In-house machining expertise

Ensure that critical features achieve precise fits and seamless integration with other components.

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Greater dimensional accuracy

Signicast's capabilities reduce the amount of machining stock required.

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Minimised machining stock

Our streamlined process contributes to faster production times and lower overall costs.

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Reduced time and costs

Discover the advantages of Signicast’s innovative machining solutions

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<p>With investment casting, the material selection is virtually limitless. Signicast pours everything from <a href="/materials/400-series-stainless-steels" target="_self">400 series stainless steel</a>, to <a href="/materials/aluminum" target="_self">aluminum</a>, to <a href="/materials/cobalt-based-alloys" target="_self">cobalt</a>, to <a href="/materials/thermal-expansion-alloys" target="_self">Invar</a> and more. In fact, Signicast pours pretty much any alloy 24/7, with very few exceptions. And with so many options, Signicast wants its customers to be informed about the advantages, properties, and capabilities of each family of alloys.</p><p>Sign up for the free on-demand webinar where Signicast Metallurgist and Process Engineers will discuss popular <a href="/materials/metal-selector-tool" target="_self">investment casting alloy options</a>, heat treatments, and other surface processes.</p><p><strong>The webinar covers:</strong></p><ul><li>Plain carbon, low alloy, and stainless steels</li><li>Aluminum alloys and treatments</li><li>Exotic alloys like cobalt, Invar, and duplex</li><li>Alloy treatments and finishing options</li><li>Material functionality, physical properties, comparable alloys, and more!</li></ul><p><strong>Fill out the form to watch on-demand.</strong></p>

Die cast nuts and bolts in a triangle pattern

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Join this engaging session on alloy experimentation at Signicast, where materials science meets manufacturing to solve unique engineering problems effectively.

Signicast Materials Lab | Alloy Innovation Webinar

Learn about investment casting alloy options, heat treatments, and surface processes. 

Investment Casting Materials Mad Science

<p>Partnering with Signicast for investment casting surface finishing offers a distinct advantage: a comprehensive suite of secondary operations housed under one roof. This streamlined approach not only guarantees the highest-quality cast components but also translates into significant benefits for customers.</p><h3>Efficiency and cost savings</h3><p>By eliminating the need to outsource finishing, Signicast's integrated process minimises lead times and reduces overall production costs. Customers enjoy the convenience of a single point of contact and the assurance that their components are handled with expert care throughout the entire manufacturing process.</p><h3>Uncompromising quality</h3><p>From machining and plating to specialised treatments, <a href="/additional-capabilities/surface-finishes-and-plating" target="_self">Signicast's surface finishing capabilities</a> are second to none. The company's commitment to quality is evident in its state-of-the-art equipment, rigorous in-cycle part checking and a team of skilled professionals dedicated to delivering consistent, flawless results.</p><h3>Reduced risk, increased confidence</h3><p>Signicast's in-house tool room ensures minimal downtime in the event of unforeseen maintenance issues, further safeguarding customer projects and ensuring on-time delivery. This level of control and responsiveness sets Signicast apart, providing customers with peace of mind and the confidence that their components are in expert hands.</p><h3>From design to delivery, one trusted partner</h3><p>Signicast's seamless integration of casting and finishing fosters better component design, faster product launches and fewer errors. By <a href="/about-us" target="_self">choosing Signicast</a>, customers gain a true one-stop shop for their investment casting needs, backed by a commitment to quality, efficiency and exceptional customer service.</p>

Investment casted parts being sprayed with a surface finish

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Discover how in-house finishing, machining and automation help Signicast deliver final parts faster with tighter quality control.

Finishing & Machining in Casting | Signicast Article

Signicast's in-house finishing for investment castings offers a streamlined, high-quality and cost-effective solution with reduced risk, benefiting customers throughout the manufacturing process.

Streamlined finishing, exceptional results: The Signicast advantage

<p>Part design is crucial to the success of any component. It is essential to the overall success of a project that schedules and deliverables remain on track. A supplier requesting a design for manufacturing review may appear to be a potential hindrance, but an initial design review at the outset of the project could save costs associated with the fit, form and function of the part, thanks to input from <a href="/additional-capabilities/engineering" target="_self">investment casting design experts</a>. Below are some frequently asked questions about the investment casting process and how our team of highly trained engineers can enhance part designs.</p><h2>Is my part too heavy for investment casting?</h2><p>Like any other manufacturing process, investment casting has limitations. At multiple stages throughout the <a href="/investment-casting/process" target="_self">investment casting process</a>, the moulds must meet certain weight requirements. The moulds themselves have weight restrictions based on the type of alloy poured, with a maximum of 100 to 120 pounds, in accordance with industry weight standards. At other stages, moulds are handled manually or automatically by Signicast’s advanced automation and robotics systems, requiring strict weight and safety restrictions.</p><h2>Does surface area create limitations?</h2><p>There are three areas where surface area creates limitations—dip cells for the ceramic shell-building process, dewaxing, where steam pressure is used to remove wax from the shell, and burnout ovens.</p><h3>Dip</h3><p>The greater the part surface area, the more viscous slurry adheres, increasing the sprue weight and creating weight limitations for the robot.</p><h3>Dewax</h3><p>Once there is a fully injected and dipped mould, the weight of the wax and the additional weight of the ceramic shell must be considered. At this stage, personnel safety weight limitations apply to ensure moulds can be transported safely within the plant.</p><h3>Burnout oven</h3><p>The moulds are fired to 1800℉, and once this temperature is reached, it is essential to ensure that the moulds can still be handled safely.&nbsp;</p><h2>How do I take full advantage of the investment casting process?</h2><p>As previously mentioned, almost every design will likely encounter a geometry, pour weight or shell weight limitation during the initial mould design phase.</p><p>However, through a Design for Manufacturing (DFM) meeting, the&nbsp;Signicast engineering team collaborates to address potential limitations, <a href="/additional-capabilities/product-optimization-and-added-value" target="_self">increasing the value of the part</a> from the outset. The part takes up space on a mould, so changes or features can be added to the design at no additional cost, provided the mould footprint remains unchanged.</p><p>For example, holes or bosses can be added to the design without increasing the overall footprint of the part. The number of pieces on the mould, as well as the unit part price, will remain the same. Minor cost implications may be added to the tooling cost.</p><p>In a recent project, the Signicast Engineering team reduced a customer's unit part price from $23 to $18—a cost reduction of almost 30%. This price reduction was not due to alloy cost, but rather a design change that allowed for more pieces per mould. The initial customer DFM session also leveraged the full benefits of the investment casting process by adding lettering, lot codes, part numbers and logos to the parts at no additional cost.</p><h2>When should I consider alloy and heat treatment selection?</h2><p><a href="/materials/metal-selector-tool" target="_self">Alloy selection</a> and heat treatment are often considered early in the design process and not revisited later.</p><p>Some customers use cutting and grinding tools. A knife blade design, initially machined from solid 420 steel, was submitted for review. After discussing the part's function and conducting a DFM review, the in-house metallurgist suggested D2 tool steel. The result was a sevenfold increase in wear resistance, significantly extending the part's service life.</p><p>Considering heat treatment is also crucial. For parts requiring extensive machining, heat treatment and material homogenisation before machining are recommended to minimise hard spots and broken tools. However, if extensive machining is not necessary, heat treatment may be eliminated entirely.</p><h2>How can I eliminate machining and ultimately cut costs?</h2><p>By designing an investment casting with specific features, machining can be avoided, eliminating a significant cost associated with the part.</p><p>The engineering team frequently encounters drawings with surface finish callouts. This often adds unnecessary costs. Many features machined on the casting are for size, position or flatness. A surface finish callout is only necessary for a sealing surface, O-ring groove or press fit. The DFM process can often help eliminate one or two machining passes, or even reduce the overall machining cycle time.</p><h2>How long does a DFM meeting take?</h2><p>The meeting typically lasts from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the part's complexity and the potential areas for improvement identified by the engineering team. Within this timeframe, the team can conduct a comprehensive DFM review and conclude with actionable steps to improve the quotation or RFQ.</p>

Investment casting molds being put into the oven

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Read answers to key engineering questions on investment casting tolerances, wall thickness, shrink factors, and dimensional control strategies for parts.

Casting fit, form and function | Signicast article

View frequently asked questions about the investment casting process, including design limitations, part design optimisation, alloy selection and cost reduction through design for manufacturing (DFM). 

Machining

Your
one-stop shop

Beyond the basics

Expand your knowledge of Signicast machining

Webinar

Article

Article

Global reach, local expertise

Explore other capabilities

Secondary operations

Product optimisation and added value

Prototyping

Interested in starting your investment casting project?

Machining

Yourone-stop shop

Beyond the basics

Expand your knowledge of Signicast machining

Webinar

Article

Article

Global reach, local expertise

Explore other capabilities

Secondary operations

Product optimisation and added value

Prototyping

Interested in starting your investment casting project?

Your
one-stop shop