Investment Casting Tolerance

　　What is the Investment Casting Tolerances? Investment Casting Tolerances means the dimension range that can be meet by investment casting.It can be classified 2 parts: Linear Tolerances and Geometric Tolerances.

Geometric Tolerances Linear Tolerances
Flatness Flatness
Straightness Straightness , Length
Parallelism　 Corner Radii
Roundness　 Flatness
Concentricity 　 Concentricity
Hole ToleranceHoles
Curved Holes, Internal Radii and Fillets Curved Holes , Fillet radii

Linear tolerance

　　Linear tolerancing is normally applied to the following features of investment castings: Length, Concentricity, Fillet radii, Holes, Flatness, Straightness, Corner Radii, and Curved Holes. And the linear tolerances of each casting process are not the same. For example, water glass lost wax casting can control general linear tolerances between CT7-CT8, and lost foam casting can meet CT8-CT9, while the tolerances of silica sol casting is the most precise, it is CT5-CT6. Below is a list of tolerance standard for casting:

ISO8062(GB/T6414) CT4-CT8—Norminal dimension (mm) Linear dimension tolerance (ISO8062)
CT4 CT5 CT6  CT7  CT8
0100.26 ±0.13 0.36±0.180.52±0.260.74±0.371±0.5
10160.28±0.140.38 ±0.19 0.54±0.270.78±0.391.1±0.55
16250.3±0.15 0.42 ±0.210.58 ±0.290.82 ±0.411.2±0.6
25400.32±0.16 0.46±0.230.64±0.32 0.9±0.451.3±0.65
40 63 0.36±0.18 0.5±0.250.7±0.351±0.51.4 ±0.7
631000.4±0.20.56 ±0.280.78±0.391.1±0.551.6±0.8
1602500.5±0.250.7±0.35 1±0.51.4±0.72±1
250 4000.56 ±0.280.78±0.391.1±0.551.6±0.82.2±1.1

This is the tolerance in our foundry.

Investment Casting Tolerance 1

　　Geometric Tolerances

　　Geometric tolerancing is normally applied to the following features of investment casting: Flatness, Straightness, Parallelism, Roundness, Hole Tolerance, Curved Holes, Internal Radii and Fillets, and so on.


　　Flatness tolerance is the total deviation accepted from a flat plane. The investment cast part’s surface must lie between the most flat plane and the plane which will affect the maximum deviation permitted.

　　The amount of volumetric shrinkage that the wax and metal undergo during cooling will always determine the the degree of flatness of investment castings. This shrinkage is usually in the center of the mass and is referred to as “dish”. This dish can be controlled by specialized techniques, but will always be present to some extent. Due to different configuration and alloys of investment castings, general flatness tolerances cannot be quoted.


　　People are always confused at the differences between straightness and flatness, as it seems so close. When it refers to the tolerance of straightness, the maximum tolerable diameter of the part’s divergence from a perfectly straight line will determine the straightness.

　　Straightness may be a real problem for some types of investment castings. As it is easy to bend for some relatively thin, short parts. Acacording to our casting experience,we may check if a designed part may bend, but it is difficult to say the bending extent before production. As a rough guide, constant sections tend to experience an axial bow of approximately 0.024 inches per foot.


　　When you see a blueprint includes parallel prongs supported only at one end, it means a particular challenge for the completion of precise investment casting. Once there is parallelism requirement for your part, our engineer in CFS foundry will discuss this issue with you prior to production.

　　It is difficult to maintain parallelism of these prongs because of volumetric shrinkage of the supporting structure. Yoke holes can also deform substantially as they reach ambient temperature. Careful design adjustment for volumetric shrinkage is critical to achieving an accurate part. These work pieces benefit from more extensive tooling and finishing.


　　The radial difference between a true circle and a given circumference will define the roundness. We can test the roundness by reading the total indicator after rotating the part 360°. Another way to check the roundness is to take half the difference between the maximum and minimum condition. The latter method is recommended as it takes less time and is more efficient .

　　We measure the roundness by the difference between minimum and maximum radii of a circular part. Our inspection process will strictly control the roundness of a part, and will pick out the parts that falls outside given tolerances.


　　Concentricity is checked by two cylindrical surfaces sharing a common point or axis as their center. The extent of eccentricity is determined by the dimensional difference in the location of one center with respect to the other. The center of a bore to the outside diameter of a part will be concentric within .003″ for each 1/2″ of wall thickness.

　　Hole Tolerance

　　Hole tolerance is the necessary roundness of a cast hole. The surrounding metal of the hole must be symmetrical to provide proper fit and/or clearance. This is extremely important for cast parts which fit together, like wheel shafts, to ensure it will fit tightly without vibration. Longer holes can experience more internal concavity, such that the interior hole diameter is greater than that of the openings. We need to care more to meet specified hole tolerances.

　　Hole tolerance will be benefit for interior shrinkage, and for diameter up to 1/2 inch, hole clearance could be within +/- .003”, which provides an accurate shape and fit.

　　Curved Holes, Internal Radii and Fillets

　　Preformed ceramic cores or a soluble wax can create curved holes. The normal hole tolerance will be doubled to take the curvature into account and all dimensions’ tolerance will be multiplied by two. We cannot size these holes so we provide a diameter tolerance of +/- .005.” For internal radii and fillets, as it is hard to control and inspect, when designed, they should be as wide as possible.

The below part is our Technical Data For Design Reference Standard

1. Linear Tolerance (mm)

Dimension (mm)≤1010～2525～5050～7575～100100～150150～200200～250＞250
Normal (mm)±0.15±0.25±0.35±0.50±0.65±1.00±1.50±1.80±1.00%
Premium (mm)±0.10±0.15±0.25±0.40±0.50±0.75±1.00±1.20±0.60%

2. Tolerance for Flatness, Straightness, Roundness


3. Surface Roughness (Ra/μm)


4. Limit Dimension for Casting Hole and Slots

Diameter of Hole(φmm) Length or Diameter of Hole (L/D)
φ2～φ3 L / D ≤ 1
φ4～φ7 L / D≤ 2
≥φ8 L / D ≤ 2.5
φ2～φ3 L / D ≤ 2
φ4～φ7 L / D≤ 4
≥φ8 L / D ≤ 5

5. Size and Weight Range

Outline Dimensions (mm)1000×300×30020×10×10＜150×100×100
Weight (Kg)400.0150.2～5
Minimum Wall Thickness (mm)1.05～15

6. Suggestion for Structure Design

The factor effects the Tolerance

Tolerances may be affected by a number of factors.

Mold temperature wax or plastic temperature injection pressure
mold or shell composition back up sand firing temperature
rate of cooling position of the part on the “tree” heat treat temperature

　　Al thought there is a tolerance standard in investment casting industry, it may still vary from foundry to foundry, as some may be specialized in thin wall small parts, and others could be more professional in larger parts. Also the equipment may also has a certain effect on the casting tolerances.