Tolerances
SURFACE FINISH CONCENTRICITY
GENERAL TOLERANCES ROUNDNESS
STRAIGHTNESS MINIMUM SECTION THICKNESS
FLATNESS PARALLEL SECTIONS
CAST HOLES OTHER FEATURES :

SURFACE FINISH:
As-cast finishes will vary with alloy specified but generally fall within the range quoted. For a ground finish an allowance of 0.010 in. (0.25mm) should be made.

 

Metal

C.I.A. value

Micro-inches

As-cast

Machined

Stainless Steels

90-126     60-125 

Cobalt Chrome Alloys

80-100     50-100

Carbon Steels

90-125     60-125

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GENERAL TOLERANCES
Shape and alloy selected will influence accuracies achieved but values given are normally accepted through out the investment casting industry.

  Dimension

  Tolerance

  Upto 25 mm

  ±0.25mm

  Above 25 mm

  ±0.25mm/25mm

Closer tolerance may be held on selected dimensions following design evaluation.
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STRAIGHTNESS

There are practical limits to straightness which can be achieved but mechanical straightning can reduce variations.

Casting Length

As-cost

Corrected

25 mm

±0.50 mm

±0.25 mm

50-100 mm

±0.75 mm

±0.50 mm

100-150 mm

±1.00 mm

±0.50 mm

150 mm

±1.50 mm

±0.62 mm

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FLATNESS
Flatness is also affected by dimensions of casting. Addition of ribs will minimize bowing, twisting and distortion and mechanical straightning will reduce variations where necessary.

Casting Length

As-Cast

Corrected

25 mm

±0.20 mm

±0.10 mm

50 mm

±0.37 mm

±0.15 mm

75 mm

±0.50 mm

±0.20 mm

100 mm

±0.62 mm

±0.25mm

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CAST HOLES

Depth (D) and Diameter(d) of hole must allow for adequate penetration of investment material.
Values given show usual limits for cast holes but pre-formed ceramic cores allow this restrictions to be exceeded, although usually at increased cost.

Through holes

Diameter (d) mm

Maximum Depth (D) mm

3.17-6.35             D upto 1.5 d

6.35-12.70           D upto 3.0 d

12.70                   D upto 5.0 d

Blind Holes

Diameter (d) mm

Maximum Depth (D) mm

4.76-12.70      D upto 1.5d

12.70              D upto 2.0 d 

CONCENTRICITY
The larger the outside diameter becomes, the closer to concentric an inside diameter can be cast.
Mechanical correction can normally be made where wall thickness is thin enough to allow plastic deformation.

O.D.(mm)

I.D. (mm)

Eccentricity (mm)

As-cast

Corrected

18.75

6.25

±0.100     ±0.100

25.00

12.50

±0.125     ±0.125

37.50

18.45

±0.200     ±0.200

50.00

25.00

±0.250     ±0.200

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ROUNDNESS
For solid bars roundness is affected by solidification stresses and tolerance required increases nearly in proportion to diameter, inline with usual 'Lost Wax' tolerances.
Values shown are for as-cost roundness on inside and outside diameters of tubes of varying sizes. Wall thickness is important and tighten tolerance can be obtained by mechanical correction if desired.

O.D. (mm)

Tolerance (mm)

I.D. (mm)

Tolerance (mm)

12.50

±0.25

upto 6.25

±0.30

25.00

±0.50

6.25-12.50

±0.40

37.50

±0.60

12.50-25.00

±0.50

50.00

±0.75

above 25.00

±0.50

(per 25 mm)

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MINIMUM SECTION THICKNESS

Wall thickness will depend upon area of casting and alloy selected. The following values are of guide from general experience.

Material

Minimum wall thickness obtainable

18/8 stainless steels

1.62 mm

25/12 stainless steels

1.50 mm

Carbon steels

2.25 mm

Cobalt-Chrome alloy

1.12 mm

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PARALLEL SECTIONS
Parallelism can be maintain by adding fire-bars to minimize distortions. Values shown are typical tolerances for various gap-widths between parallel sections per inch cost.

Gap (mm)

Tolerance(mm)
As-cast

Corrected

6.25

±0.075

±0.075

12.50

±0.125

±0.100

18.65

±0.150

±0.100

25.00

±0.175

±0.125

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OTHER FEATURES :

Angles : Angular tolerance to ±1/2° (Closer by mechanical corrections).
Symbols : Latters, Numbers, etc., can be reproduce in relief or inset.
Serrations, Splines and Gear Teeth may be cast in certain instances subject to prior agreement.

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