Casting metals using the lost-wax technique was first developed in the Bronze Age, approximately 2500 BC. Since then, this method has been used for the production of objects such as weaponry, musical instruments and jewellery. Meanwhile, beeswax and loam have been replaced by high-quality wax compounds and ceramics, whilst the production method has been developed further to suit high-quality industrial applications to a maximum extent. The production process starts with a highly accurate aluminium mould in to which special wax is injected under high pressure, resulting in the production of wax models or patterns. These wax models are fitted on a casting system forming a "tree" of patterns and runner wax. The tree is given a ceramic layer by submerging it in ceramic slurry and "sanding" it afterwards with granular refractory. This production step is fully automated and repeated multiple times. After the ceramic layer has been applied, the wax is melted out in an autoclave. The now empty ceramic shell is sintered and the fluid aluminium or steel can be poured into the shell. After it has been cooled down, the ceramic layer is removed and the cast product is sawn off the casting system, after which final processing and quality control is carried out.
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