1.Preliminary Mold Development:Product Drawing Confirmation: Confirm specifications (1/2", 3/4", 1 inch, etc.), thread standard (NPT/PT/BSPP), material (304/316), pressure rating (150LB), surface requirements, and whether casting markings need to be removed.Mold Machining (Aluminum Mold / Steel Mold): Machin the wax pressing mold; the mold cavity = tee shape; the mold includes a core structure, with allowance for internal thread machining.
2.Investment Casting Main Processes (Lost-Wax Casting):Wax Model Pressing: Molten paraffin wax is poured into a mold, cooled, and removed to obtain a wax model identical to the shape of the tee. Burrs and flash are then removed. Wax Model Assembly Welding: Multiple tee wax models are bonded to the gating wax rod to form a complete assembly, improving casting efficiency. Slurry Coating and Shell Formation (Surface Layer + Back Layer): The assembly is repeatedly immersed in refractory slurry + silica sand:Surface Layer: Fine silica sol slurry to ensure a smooth casting surface and reduce sand holes;Back Layer: Multiple layers of coarse sand for reinforcement, forming a hard ceramic shell;After shell formation, thorough air drying is required (constant temperature and humidity workshop, crucial! Insufficient drying easily leads to bulging and porosity. Dewaxing: The shell model is sent to a steam dewaxing kettle. High temperature and pressure melt the internal wax, causing it to flow out and forming a hollow cavity inside the shell. Firing the Shell Mold: High-temperature baking of the ceramic shell burns off residual wax, strengthens the shell mold, and preheats the shell itself.Melting and Casting: Stainless steel raw material (304/316 molten steel) is melted in an induction furnace and poured into the hollow ceramic shell cavity under vacuum/atmospheric conditions, then cooled and solidified. Vibration Cleaning: After cooling, the ceramic shell is vibrated to break it, the metal blank tee is removed, and the gate and runner are cut off.Shot Blasting: High-speed steel shot is used to blast the surface of the blank: removing oxide scale and improving surface finish, resulting in the cast blank tee.
3.Machining Process (Core! Determines Thread Accuracy): The inner hole of the cast blank is a smooth hole, without threads, and must be CNC machined: Clamp the blank on a CNC lathe/tapping machine. Flatten the end face, trim the inner and outer diameters of the pipe opening, and ensure dimensional tolerances. Taper the inner hole: Machin the internal thread according to standards (NPT tapered thread / BSP parallel thread).Key Process Points: Leave a machining allowance of 0.6~1.2mm for the thread; check with a go/no-go gauge after tapping to ensure thread interchangeability.
4.Post-processing, inspection, and packaging:Pickling and passivation (essential for stainless steel): Pickling removes the oxide layer from the machining process, and passivation treatment forms a rust-proof protective film on the surface, improving corrosion resistance.Full inspection process.Appearance: Screening for defects such as sand holes, pores, cracks, and dents;Dimensions: Caliper measurement of outer diameter and length;Threads: Inspection of thread go and no-go gauges;Pressure testing (as needed): Water pressure/air pressure testing to prevent leakage (100% pressure testing is commonly used for export orders);Marking (optional): Laser marking/cast marking: Material 316, pressure 150LB, specifications; many export customers require unmarked blanks, requiring grinding to remove the cast lettering.Cleaning and drying, applying plastic protective sleeves to the inner holes to protect the threads, and packing.