Agra, Aug 17 (KNN) In order to impart training in metal forming technology to small entrepreneurs, the Process and Product Development Centre (PPDC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has come up with a programme here. 

“Investment casting is still considered as special process and foundries engaged in manufacturing are working in isolation, not allowing outsiders to visit their factory for getting exposure and training in the casting processes. Therefore, the centre proposes to conduct a series of short term training programme for engineering student and foundry entrepreneurs,” said PPDC.

Investment casting is an industrial process based on lost-wax casting and one of the oldest known metal-forming techniques. The castings allow the production of components with accuracy in a variety of metals and high-performance alloys.

The process is generally used for small castings, but has been used to produce complete aircraft door frames, steel and aluminium castings.

It can produce complicated shapes that would be difficult or impossible to make with die casting and requires little surface finishing and minor machining.

PPDC has set up a modern investment casting foundry in Agra for development of precision mouldings as well as for imparting training to engineering students, entrepreneurs and foundry personnel.

Besides investment casting, the centre has a complete foundry facility comprising of medium frequency induction furnace, sand moulding shop, quality control lab etc.

Precision investment casting process is a new emerging trend in Indian foundry industry. The user industry prefers to procure cast components with ‘near net shape’ so that machining time is brought down to a bare minimum.

Moreover, steels, alloys, spheroidal graphite iron, super alloys and non-ferrous metals can be casted to produce ‘near net shape’ components for the pump and valves, automobile, surgical tools, defence artificial limbs, ornamental items etc.

The casting caters to a substantial commercial market and competes directly with powder metallurgy, die casting, machining, forging etc. (KNN/GUNJ)