Multi-Pull and Straight-Pull Tooling

Creating intricate parts and components requires precision casting. Product complexity is often an issue during design and manufacturing. Investment casting allows components to be manufactured at almost any level of complexity; tolerances are extremely tight as well.

For the molding process to be effective, the proper investment casting tooling is required. Among the various types of investment casting equipment, multi-pull and straight-pull tooling are crucial for achieving the desired results.

Multi-Pull vs. Straight Pull Tooling

With a straight-pull mold, only a single product can be formed per cycle. This is a common form of injection molding and quite simple. The mold has two sides that close, and the part is created, although there are limitations in the complexity of any particular design.

Nonetheless, side-action cams can be used if an undercut is included in the parts’ geometry. Custom inserts, including pick-outs, can be used to create an angled surface or a core pin can create small holes through parts.

Multi-pull tooling takes it to a new level. The process can speed up cycle time and reduce the per-part cost of tooling; complex parts can be created in multiple quantities. It also works for smaller parts. Even two-sided parts can be molded in the same tool without resorting to separate processes for each section. Wax in the casting system forms channels that transport material to where it forms each product, so this process supports bulk production regardless of how complex the patterns are.

Benefits of Investment Casting Tooling

Investment casting has advantages over other methods, such as CNC manufacturing that isn’t always as fast and cost-efficient. Investment casting tooling is beneficial because:

• It is affordable: Expensive tooling and machinery are not required, while less material is wasted during the production process.
• Lead times are reduced: It takes less time to manufacture parts because less labor is needed, allowing rapid prototypes or final products to be available quickly.
• More materials can be used: Investment casting supports a wider range of materials, including ferrous/non-ferrous metals and alloys. Dies are often made out of aluminum.

Investment Casting Tooling Process

Derived from a casting process that’s been used for thousands of years, investment casting was modernized in the late 19th century. It involves first dipping a wax pattern into a ceramic slurry; this coating process forms a mold. The wax is then melted out of this outer covering. Molten metal is poured inside and, once it solidifies, the mold is removed and the part is ready for finishing and other post-molding steps. This process is used in the aerospace, electronics, agricultural, automotive, and medical industries.

Investment Casting Tooling and More at Laszeray

At Laszeray Technology LLC, we offer a range of molding techniques to support many applications. These include wax injection molding, core tooling for forming features in parts or mold tools, and gate parts molds for plastic injection molding of parts with various dimensions, materials, and appearances. To learn more about our investment casting tooling capabilities and discuss your requirements, call 440-582-8430.