Comprehensive Overview of Bronze Investment Casting Services
We are one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of Bronze Investment Castings, Lost Wax Bronze Castings, and Precision Bronze Components from India. We have been supplying high-quality bronze investment cast marine components, bronze precision cast pump impellers, bronze lost wax cast valve bodies, bronze investment cast sculptures and art pieces, bronze precision cast bearings and bushings, bronze lost wax cast architectural hardware, bronze investment cast industrial components, and custom bronze castings to the world market for many decades. Our state-of-the-art investment casting foundry specializes in producing premium bronze castings using advanced lost wax process, ceramic shell molding, vacuum casting, centrifugal casting, CNC machining, patina finishing, and comprehensive quality control systems. With over three decades of global experience in bronze investment casting, we serve diverse industries including marine and shipbuilding (propellers, pump impellers, valve bodies, marine hardware), art and sculpture (bronze statues, monuments, architectural sculptures, fine art castings), architectural and decorative (door hardware, railings, ornamental elements, historical restoration), industrial pumps and valves (impellers, valve components, pump casings, wear parts), aerospace and defense (bushings, bearings, structural components, landing gear parts), musical instruments (bells, cymbals, specialized components), offshore and subsea (corrosion-resistant components, high-pressure valve parts), and general engineering (gears, bearings, wear plates, custom precision parts). Our expertise encompasses working with various bronze alloys including Tin Bronze C90700 (10% Sn, superior seawater corrosion resistance), Aluminum Bronze C95400 (11% Al, high strength and corrosion resistance), Aluminum Bronze C95500 (11% Al, 4% Ni, enhanced marine properties), Silicon Bronze C87300 (3% Si, excellent corrosion and weldability), Phosphor Bronze C90500 (10% Sn, 0.2% P, superior wear resistance), Manganese Bronze (high strength applications), and custom bronze alloys meeting specific requirements. We manufacture bronze investment castings ranging from 10 grams to 50 kg with dimensions from 15mm to 1000mm, maintaining dimensional accuracy ±0.15-0.5mm, excellent surface finish Ra 1.6-3.2 μm as-cast, wall thickness 1.0-80mm, superior detail reproduction for artistic and technical applications, compliance with ASTM B584, ASTM B505, ASTM B148, BS 1400, SAE standards, and reliable 20-60+ year service life in marine, industrial, and architectural applications.
Bronze Investment Casting Process (Lost Wax Process)
Bronze Investment Casting produces high-precision bronze components with intricate details, excellent surface finish, and superior mechanical properties. The lost wax process is particularly suited for bronze alloys due to their excellent castability and the process capability for complex artistic and technical applications.
Process Overview
Pattern Creation: Master patterns created via CNC machining, 3D printing (SLA, FDM), traditional sculpting for artistic castings, rubber molds produced from masters for wax injection, pattern accuracy critical for final casting dimensions, special attention to shrinkage compensation for bronze alloys (1.5-2.5%).
Wax Injection and Assembly: Molten wax injected into rubber molds at 60-75°C under pressure 350-700 kPa, wax patterns assembled onto sprue tree in optimal orientation, 3-30 patterns per tree depending on size, gating designed for proper bronze flow considering alloy fluidity, runner system sized for bronze pouring characteristics.
Ceramic Shell Building: Multiple layers of ceramic slurry and stucco applied, first coat fine grain (325 mesh) for surface finish, subsequent coats coarser grain (16-30 mesh) for strength, 6-12 layers achieving 8-20mm shell thickness for bronze casting, drying between coats in controlled environment, total shell building time 4-10 days depending on layers and size.
Dewaxing and Firing: Shells dewaxed in steam autoclave 140-160°C or flash furnace, wax reclaimed and recycled, shells fired at 900-1100°C for 2-6 hours strengthening structure, preheating to 700-900°C before bronze pouring reducing thermal shock and improving flow.
Bronze Melting and Pouring: Bronze melted in induction or crucible furnaces 1050-1200°C depending on alloy, tin bronze 1050-1100°C, aluminum bronze 1100-1150°C, degassing with nitrogen or argon, fluxing removing impurities, pouring temperature 50-120°C above liquidus, gravity pouring or vacuum-assisted for complex thin sections.
Solidification and Knockout: Bronze solidification time 3-45 minutes depending on section thickness and alloy, shells broken mechanically after cooling to 200-300°C, castings cut from sprue tree, shot blasting removing residual shell material, visual inspection for defects.
Finishing and Machining: Gate removal by cutting, grinding, or machining, welding repairs for minor defects where permitted, CNC machining for critical dimensions, surface finishing (grinding, polishing, patina), heat treatment where required, final inspection and testing.
Investment Casting Advantages for Bronze
Dimensional Precision: Tolerance ±0.15-0.5mm achievable for bronze alloys, excellent repeatability, minimal draft angles 0-1.5 degrees, complex geometries without parting lines, critical dimensions for marine propellers and pump impellers.
Surface Quality: As-cast surface finish Ra 1.6-3.2 μm (excellent for marine hardware and artistic castings), smooth internal passages for fluid flow, reduced finishing operations saving cost, superior to sand casting Ra 12.5-25 μm.
Design Freedom: Complex undercuts and internal passages, thin walls 1.0-2.5mm for artistic detail, integrated mounting features, near-net-shape reducing machining up to 80%, rapid prototyping capability 4-6 weeks from concept to casting.
Material Efficiency: 60-90% material savings versus machining from solid bronze bar, gating system recyclable, efficient for expensive bronze alloys (aluminum bronze, nickel-aluminum bronze), lower total cost for complex geometries.
Artistic Detail: Exceptional detail reproduction for sculptures and art castings, captures fine textures and surface detail, traditional lost wax process preserving artistic integrity, multiple casting from single master pattern.
Bronze Alloys for Investment Casting
Tin Bronze C90700 (Gun Metal)
Composition: 88% Cu, 10% Sn, 2% Zn. Properties: Tensile strength 275-310 MPa, yield strength 130-160 MPa, elongation 20-28%, hardness 70-85 HB, excellent seawater corrosion resistance <0.02 mm/year. Castability: Excellent fluidity for investment casting, good solidification characteristics, minimal shrinkage porosity. Applications: Marine pump impellers, valve bodies, propeller blades, marine hardware, seawater applications requiring 30-50 year service life. Cost: Baseline for tin bronze alloys, widely available.
Aluminum Bronze C95400 (9% Al)
Composition: 85% Cu, 11% Al, 4% Fe. Properties: Tensile strength 620-690 MPa (2× stronger than tin bronze), yield strength 275-310 MPa, elongation 12-18%, hardness 170-210 HB, exceptional seawater resistance and cavitation resistance. Castability: Good fluidity, requires careful gating for aluminum bronze characteristics, heat treatment improves properties. Applications: Marine propellers, high-pressure pump impellers, offshore valve bodies, critical marine components, wear-resistant bushings, 40-60 year service life. Cost: Premium 30-40% over tin bronze.
Aluminum Bronze C95500 (11% Al, 4% Ni)
Composition: 81% Cu, 11% Al, 4% Fe, 4% Ni. Properties: Tensile strength 655-760 MPa, superior corrosion resistance from nickel addition, enhanced mechanical properties, excellent weldability. Applications: Naval vessels, offshore platforms, subsea equipment, high-performance marine propulsion, critical components requiring maximum reliability. Cost: Premium 40-55% over tin bronze.
Silicon Bronze C87300
Composition: 96% Cu, 3% Si, 1% other. Properties: Tensile strength 380-480 MPa, excellent corrosion resistance and weldability, superior marine atmospheric corrosion resistance, attractive reddish-gold color. Castability: Excellent fluidity for thin sections and intricate details, good solidification, minimal defects. Applications: Marine architectural hardware, sculptures and art castings, welded assemblies, high-end decorative elements, corrosion-critical components. Cost: Premium 45-65% over tin bronze, justified for artistic and architectural applications.
Phosphor Bronze C90500
Composition: 88% Cu, 10% Sn, 0.2% P. Properties: Tensile strength 290-340 MPa, excellent wear resistance, high fatigue strength, good spring properties, superior bearing characteristics. Applications: Bearings and bushings, gears and worm wheels, wear plates, spring components, sliding contact applications. Cost: Comparable to tin bronze C90700.
Manganese Bronze C86300
Composition: 63% Cu, 25% Zn, 6% Mn, 4% Fe, 1% Al. Properties: Tensile strength 550-620 MPa, high strength with good corrosion resistance, excellent wear resistance, good machinability. Applications: High-strength gears, marine propeller shafts, wear-resistant components, structural parts requiring strength. Cost: Premium 20-35% over tin bronze.
Bronze Alloy Selection for Investment Casting
| Alloy | Tensile Strength | Castability | Corrosion Resistance | Typical Applications | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C90700 Tin Bronze | 275-310 MPa | Excellent | Excellent (seawater) | Marine valves, pumps, hardware | Baseline |
| C95400 Aluminum Bronze | 620-690 MPa | Good | Outstanding (seawater) | Propellers, high-pressure valves | +30-40% |
| C95500 Aluminum Bronze | 655-760 MPa | Good | Superior (extreme marine) | Naval, offshore, subsea | +40-55% |
| C87300 Silicon Bronze | 380-480 MPa | Excellent | Excellent (atmospheric) | Sculptures, architectural | +45-65% |
| C90500 Phosphor Bronze | 290-340 MPa | Excellent | Good | Bearings, gears, wear parts | Baseline |
| C86300 Manganese Bronze | 550-620 MPa | Good | Good | High-strength gears, shafts | +20-35% |
Applications by Industry
Marine and Shipbuilding
Propellers: Investment cast bronze propellers 300-3000mm diameter for boats, yachts, commercial vessels, 3-blade, 4-blade, 5-blade configurations, aluminum bronze C95400 or manganese bronze for high-performance, tin bronze C90700 for general marine, precision blade geometry critical for efficiency, tolerances ±0.5mm, surface finish Ra 1.6-3.2 μm reducing cavitation, 20-40 year service life.
Pump Impellers: Centrifugal pump impellers for seawater cooling, fire suppression, ballast systems, sizes 80-600mm diameter, closed, semi-open, and open designs, aluminum bronze for cavitation resistance in high-velocity applications, tin bronze for moderate service, investment casting enabling complex blade geometry impossible with machining.
Valve Bodies and Components: Ball valve bodies 1/2″ to 6″, butterfly valve discs, gate valve components, check valve internals, pressure ratings 150-600 PSI, complex internal passages, integrated seat pockets, aluminum bronze for high-pressure offshore applications, tin bronze for general marine service.
Marine Hardware: Deck cleats, fairleads, chocks, pulpit fittings, winch components, door and hatch hardware, porthole frames, intricate traditional yacht hardware designs, silicon bronze for premium appearance and corrosion resistance, investment casting reproducing historical designs precisely.
Art and Sculpture
Fine Art Sculptures: Bronze statues and monuments, figurative sculptures, abstract art pieces, relief panels, medallions and plaques, sizes 50mm to 5000mm+, silicon bronze or tin bronze for traditional bronze sculpture appearance, exceptional detail reproduction capturing artist’s original work, traditional lost wax process preserving artistic integrity.
Architectural Sculptures: Building facades and decorative elements, fountains and water features, memorial sculptures, public art installations, corporate sculptures, large-scale investment castings up to 500 kg, multiple castings assembled for monumental works.
Limited Edition Art: Artist editions and collectibles, gallery-quality castings, bronze figurines, decorative art objects, numbered editions with certificates, precision reproduction of original sculptures, various patina finishes (verde, brown, black, natural).
Historical Restoration: Reproduction of historical bronze elements, architectural restoration components, museum-quality replica castings, period hardware and decorative elements, matching original alloys and patinas.
Architectural and Decorative
Door Hardware: Investment cast door handles, knobs, backplates, hinges, lock components, door knockers and kick plates, historical and contemporary designs, silicon bronze for premium architectural projects, various patina finishes, sizes 30-300mm, production 50-5,000 per design.
Railing Components: Balustrade newel caps and finials, railing brackets and connectors, decorative rosettes, handrail end caps, complex ornamental designs, architectural bronze finishes, custom designs for architects and designers.
Lighting Elements: Chandelier arms and components, sconce bodies and backplates, lamp finials and decorative elements, outdoor lighting fixtures, silicon bronze for corrosion resistance, intricate decorative details.
Ornamental Hardware: Cabinet hardware and pulls, furniture mounts and appliques, decorative corner pieces, escutcheon plates, various architectural periods (Victorian, Art Deco, Contemporary).
Industrial Pumps and Valves
Pump Components: Investment cast pump casings and volutes, wear rings and plates, impeller hubs, shaft sleeves, strainer bodies, aluminum bronze for slurry and abrasive service, phosphor bronze for wear-resistant parts, tin bronze for chemical compatibility.
Valve Components: Valve bodies for high-pressure applications, valve seats and gates, stem guides and bushings, check valve components, control valve trim, pressure ratings 300-1500 PSI, complex internal geometry for flow control.
Manifold Blocks: Hydraulic manifolds with 3D internal passages, pneumatic distribution manifolds, multiple ports and connections, investment casting enabling complex passages impossible with drilling, aluminum bronze for high-pressure 200-350 bar.
Aerospace and Defense
Landing Gear Bushings: Aluminum bronze bushings for aircraft landing gear, high load capacity 150-250 MPa bearing stress, corrosion resistance, sizes 50-300mm OD, precision tolerances ±0.05mm, aerospace quality requirements AS9100.
Structural Components: Investment cast brackets and fittings, mounting hardware, high-strength aluminum bronze or manganese bronze, weight-critical applications, non-magnetic applications (aluminum bronze), military specifications MIL-B-24480.
Naval Applications: Submarine components requiring non-magnetic properties, minesweeper equipment, torpedo components, naval vessel hardware, corrosion resistance in marine environment.
Musical Instruments
Bells and Cymbals: Bronze bells for churches, carillons, hand bells, cymbals for orchestral and drum applications, specific bronze alloys for tonal quality (80% Cu, 20% Sn bell bronze), precision tuning requirements, investment casting producing consistent wall thickness for sound quality.
Brass Instrument Components: Trumpet and trombone components, French horn rotary valves, tuba parts, precise dimensional control, smooth internal passages for airflow.
Offshore and Subsea
Subsea Equipment: Valve bodies for subsea trees and manifolds, ROV components, wellhead equipment, blowout preventer parts, aluminum bronze C95500 for maximum seawater resistance 40-60 years, pressure ratings 5,000-15,000 PSI.
Platform Equipment: Fire suppression components, seawater intake components, ballast system parts, mooring hardware, corrosion resistance in harsh offshore environment.
Manufacturing Capabilities and Quality Control
Advanced Investment Casting Foundry
Pattern Making: In-house capabilities including CNC machining, 3D printing (SLA for high-detail patterns, FDM for prototypes), traditional sculpting studio for artistic work, rubber mold making RTV silicone, injection wax machines 10g to 5kg capacity, pattern library 5,000+ technical and artistic designs.
Shell Building: Climate-controlled shell building facility (temperature 22±2°C, humidity 50±5% RH), automated robotic dipping systems for consistency, ceramic slurry mixing and monitoring viscosity, multiple shell building lines for different sizes, capacity 30,000-150,000 pieces monthly.
Melting and Pouring: Induction melting furnaces 100-1000 kg capacity with precise temperature control ±3°C, crucible furnaces for small batches and artistic castings, degassing systems nitrogen/argon reducing porosity, vacuum-assisted casting for thin-wall complex geometries, centrifugal casting capability for cylindrical components.
Heat Treatment: Solution annealing furnaces for aluminum bronze 870-950°C, tempering furnaces 565-675°C, stress relief 275-425°C, controlled atmosphere preventing oxidation, process certification per ASTM requirements.
CNC Machining and Finishing
Machining Centers: 18+ CNC machines (VMC, HMC, turning centers, 5-axis), machining bronze castings to ±0.02-0.05mm tolerances, surface finish Ra 0.4-3.2 μm, capabilities for propeller blade profiling, pump impeller machining, valve seat finishing.
Artistic Finishing: Metal chasing and hand finishing for sculptures, welding repairs and assembly for large sculptures, grinding and polishing various finishes (satin, mirror, textured), sandblasting and bead blasting surface preparation.
Patina Application: Chemical patinas (verde green, brown, black), heat-applied patinas, traditional hot patina techniques for art castings, protective wax coatings and sealers, custom patina formulations matching historical finishes.
Comprehensive Quality Control
Material Verification: OES spectrometry verifying bronze composition within ASTM B584 specifications ±0.5%, tin content verification for tin bronze, aluminum content for aluminum bronze, tensile testing per ASTM B505, hardness testing Brinell or Rockwell.
Dimensional Inspection: CMM inspection ±0.003-0.005mm accuracy for complex 3D sculptures and technical parts, laser scanning for large sculptures documenting dimensions, precision measuring instruments for critical features, surface finish measurement Ra verification, propeller pitch and diameter verification.
Non-Destructive Testing: X-ray radiography 100% for critical marine and aerospace components, liquid penetrant testing for surface cracks, ultrasonic testing for wall thickness and soundness, pressure testing for pressure-containing components 1.5× working pressure.
Metallurgical Testing: Microstructure examination grain size and phase distribution, mechanical property verification on test bars cast with production, corrosion testing per ASTM G48 for critical marine applications.
Artistic Quality Control: Visual comparison to approved samples, artist approval for limited editions, patina color matching to standards, dimensional verification for multiple castings, foundry marks and edition numbering.
Technical Standards and Specifications
ASTM Standards
ASTM B584: Copper alloy sand castings specification covering bronze alloys C90700, C95400, C95500, C86300, applicable to investment castings requiring similar properties, composition and mechanical property requirements. ASTM B505: Mechanical testing procedures for copper alloy castings including tensile testing, specimen preparation, property determination. ASTM B148: Aluminum bronze sand castings, applicable to investment cast aluminum bronze components. ASTM B427: Centrifugally cast copper alloy pipe and tube applicable to cylindrical bronze castings.
Marine Standards
ABS (American Bureau of Shipping): Type approval for marine bronze castings, material certification, mechanical testing, required for commercial vessels. Lloyd’s Register: Approval for marine components, propellers, pump impellers, valve bodies. DNV-GL: Rules for classification covering bronze castings for marine service. Military Specifications: MIL-B-24480 aluminum bronze castings for naval applications, MIL-C-15345 copper alloy castings.
Aerospace Standards
AMS 4880: Aluminum bronze castings for aerospace bushings and structural components. AS9100: Aerospace quality management system required for aircraft component suppliers. SAE AMS: Aerospace material specifications for bronze alloys.
Art Casting Standards
Fine Art Trade Guild Standards: Quality standards for bronze sculpture casting, edition numbering, certificates of authenticity. Foundry Association Standards: Bronze sculpture casting best practices, traditional lost wax process, artistic quality requirements.
Advantages Over Alternative Processes
Versus Sand Casting: Investment casting dimensional accuracy ±0.15-0.5mm vs. ±1.5-3.0mm sand, surface finish Ra 1.6-3.2 μm vs. 12.5-25 μm, superior detail reproduction for artistic and technical applications, thinner walls possible 1.0mm vs. 3mm minimum, better mechanical properties from finer grain structure, no parting lines improving appearance.
Versus Die Casting: Investment casting allows higher melting point bronze alloys (tin bronze, aluminum bronze) vs. zinc/aluminum in die casting, heat treatable for improved properties, thicker sections and heavier castings possible, superior for artistic applications requiring detail, lower tooling cost for low-medium volumes <10,000 pieces.
Versus Machining from Bar: Material savings 60-90% critical for expensive bronze alloys, complex geometries (propeller blades, sculpture undercuts), integrated features eliminating assembly, faster production for complex parts, lower cost for volumes >50 pieces, design flexibility impossible with machining.
Versus Forging: Near-net-shape reducing machining significantly, complex artistic geometries not possible with forging, lower tooling costs especially for low volumes, better for decorative elements, forging advantages in highest strength applications and very high volumes >50,000.
Design Guidelines for Bronze Investment Casting
Wall Thickness: Minimum wall 1.0-2.0mm for small castings (jewelry, small fittings), 2.0-4.0mm for medium castings (valve components, marine hardware), 4.0-8.0mm for large castings (pump impellers, sculptures), uniform wall thickness preferred, gradual transitions avoiding hot spots, maximum thickness 80mm achievable with proper feeding.
Draft Angles: Minimal draft 0-1.5 degrees for pattern removal, complex undercuts achievable with multi-part molds, sharp corners and edges possible, design freedom for artistic and technical applications.
Tolerances: General tolerance ±0.2-0.5mm for dimensions <200mm per ISO 8062 grade CT5-6, ±0.5-1.0mm for 200-500mm, critical dimensions machined to ±0.02-0.1mm, propeller blade tolerances ±0.3mm, sculpture dimensional accuracy ±0.5mm typical.
Surface Finish: As-cast Ra 1.6-3.2 μm suitable for marine hardware and artistic work, machined bearing surfaces Ra 0.4-1.6 μm, polished decorative surfaces Ra 0.1-0.4 μm, internal passages Ra 3.2-6.3 μm.
Detail Reproduction: Excellent for fine artistic detail, raised lettering minimum 0.8mm height, engraved detail 0.5mm depth, sharp edges and fine textures, sculptural undercuts and complex forms, signature reproduction for art castings.
Gates and Risers: Gating designed by experienced foundry engineers, gate location considerations for surface finish (hidden areas for artistic work), secondary operations remove gates and runners, adequate feeding preventing shrinkage porosity critical for bronze.
Shrinkage Compensation: Bronze solidification shrinkage 1.5-2.5% depending on alloy (tin bronze ~1.8%, aluminum bronze ~2.2%), patterns oversized accordingly, critical dimensions verified and adjusted.
Why Choose Our Bronze Investment Casting Services
Three Decades of Bronze Casting Excellence
Established 1990: 30+ years producing bronze investment castings for marine, artistic, architectural, aerospace across 38+ countries. Proven Performance: Delivered 5+ million bronze investment castings including 50,000+ art castings, 200,000+ marine components, 98% on-time delivery, <0.6% defect rate. Certifications: ISO 9001:2015 certified, working towards ABS marine approval, AS9100 aerospace certification in progress.
Comprehensive Bronze Alloy Expertise
Complete Alloy Range: C90700 tin bronze seawater service, C95400/C95500 aluminum bronze high-strength marine, C87300 silicon bronze artistic/architectural, C90500 phosphor bronze bearings/gears, C86300 manganese bronze high-strength, custom alloys per specifications. Material Sourcing: High-purity copper, tin, aluminum from certified suppliers, composition control ±0.5%, complete traceability heat numbers to finished castings.
Artistic and Technical Capabilities
Art Casting Division: Dedicated studio for sculpture and artistic work, collaboration with artists and sculptors worldwide, traditional lost wax process preserving artistic integrity, 500+ completed sculpture projects, large-scale capability up to 5 meters height, edition management and documentation. Marine Division: Specialized marine component casting, propeller blade profiling CNC capability, pump impeller precision machining, marine valve body manufacturing, aluminum bronze expertise, ABS and Lloyd’s approval in progress.
Integrated Manufacturing Services
Complete Solution: Investment casting, CNC machining, surface finishing, patina application, assembly, testing, packaging, one-stop solution reducing coordination. Surface Treatment: In-house patina application (verde, brown, black, custom), polishing and buffing, protective coatings and sealers, chrome/nickel plating through approved suppliers.
Engineering and Design Support
Design for Manufacturability: DFM review optimizing for investment casting, casting simulation (MAGMA software) predicting defects and optimizing gating, recommendations for cost reduction while maintaining quality, tolerance analysis, prototype development 4-6 weeks. Custom Development: Reverse engineering from physical samples or photos, 3D modeling from sketches or concepts, new sculpture and component development, proprietary designs with confidentiality agreements.
Competitive Global Pricing
Cost Advantage: 30-45% savings versus European and North American foundries, competitive with Asian foundries offering superior quality control and communication, transparent pricing detailed cost breakdown. Volume Pricing: 10-100 pieces: baseline, 100-1,000: 12-18% discount, 1,000-10,000: 18-28%, >10,000: 28-38%, blanket orders with scheduled releases: additional 5-10%. Value Engineering: Design optimization reducing bronze weight 15-25%, gating optimization improving yields, manufacturing improvements passing savings to customers.
Flexible Production Volumes
Low Volume/Artistic: Economical for single art castings to limited editions 10-100 pieces, prototype components 5-50 pieces, specialized technical parts, custom sculptures. Medium Production: Efficient for 100-5,000 pieces annually, marine components, architectural hardware, industrial valves. High Volume: Optimized production >5,000 pieces with dedicated tooling and processes, automotive bronze bushings, high-volume industrial components.
Global Logistics and Service
Worldwide Shipping: North America (32%), Europe (28%), Middle East (18%), Asia-Pacific (12%), Australia (10%), established customers in marine, art, architectural, industrial sectors. Export Services: Air freight expedited 5-7 days for urgent art installations or marine repairs, sea freight economical 25-40 days, specialized art crating and packaging, export insurance available. Documentation: Material certificates ASTM/BS, test reports, dimensional inspection reports, certificates of authenticity for art editions, artist statements, REACH compliance. Lead Times: Art casting prototypes 4-6 weeks, production tooling 6-10 weeks, production castings 4-10 weeks depending on volume and complexity, machined/finished components add 2-4 weeks. On-Time: 98% delivery performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the advantage of investment casting for bronze components? Investment casting (lost wax process) produces bronze components with dimensional accuracy ±0.15-0.5mm (10× better than sand casting), surface finish Ra 1.6-3.2 μm (8× better than sand), exceptional detail reproduction for artistic sculptures and intricate marine hardware, complex geometries with undercuts and internal passages impossible with other processes, thin walls 1.0-2mm minimum, near-net-shape reducing machining 60-90%. Ideal for: bronze sculptures and art castings capturing fine detail, marine propellers and pump impellers requiring complex blade geometry, architectural hardware with ornamental designs, valve bodies with internal passages, aerospace bushings with tight tolerances. Traditional lost wax process has produced bronze art for 5,000+ years, now with modern precision for technical applications.
Q2: Which bronze alloy should I select for my application? C90700 Tin Bronze: Best general marine applications, excellent seawater corrosion resistance, marine valves/pumps/hardware, traditional bronze sculpture appearance, 30-50 year marine service life, baseline cost. C95400 Aluminum Bronze: High-strength marine propellers and pump impellers, 2× stronger than tin bronze (620 MPa), superior cavitation resistance, critical offshore equipment, 40-60 year life, +30-40% cost. C95500 Aluminum Bronze: Maximum corrosion resistance for naval vessels, subsea equipment, extreme environments, enhanced nickel content, +40-55% cost. C87300 Silicon Bronze: Premium architectural hardware and sculptures, excellent atmospheric corrosion resistance, beautiful reddish-gold color, superior weldability, +45-65% cost. C90500 Phosphor Bronze: Bearings, bushings, gears requiring wear resistance, spring components. Consult our engineers with application requirements.
Q3: Can you cast large bronze sculptures and what is the size limit? Yes, we specialize in large-scale bronze sculpture casting up to 5 meters height and 500 kg single casting weight. Process: Larger sculptures cast in multiple sections then welded and assembled, each section investment cast for finest detail, sections designed for structural integrity and minimal visible seams, traditional metal chasing and finishing creating seamless appearance. Recent Projects: 4-meter monument sculpture (12 sections), 3.5-meter architectural sculpture (8 sections), life-size equestrian statue (15 sections). No size limit for assembled sculptures. Material: Silicon bronze C87300 or tin bronze C90700 depending on application and budget. Timeline: Large sculptures 12-20 weeks including pattern making, casting, assembly, patina. Services: Work directly with artists and sculptors, 3D scanning of original clay/plaster models, enlargement or reduction services, edition management for limited edition sculptures.
Q4: What are typical lead times and costs for bronze investment castings? Prototype/Samples: 4-6 weeks for new designs including pattern making (3D printed or CNC machined), rubber mold, wax patterns, shell building, casting, basic finishing, MOQ 5-50 pieces depending on size. Production Tooling: 6-10 weeks for high-volume rubber mold tooling from approved master, sampling and dimensional verification, MOQ 100-500 pieces economical. Production Castings: 4-10 weeks for repeat orders depending on volume and complexity, MOQ 50-1,000 pieces (art castings lower MOQ acceptable). Machined/Finished: Add 2-4 weeks for CNC machining, patina application. Cost Factors: Size and weight (10g to 50kg range), complexity (simple geometry vs. intricate sculpture), bronze alloy (tin bronze baseline, aluminum bronze +30-40%, silicon bronze +45-65%), volume (1,000 pieces cost 25-35% less per piece than 100 pieces), finishing requirements (as-cast vs. machined vs. patina). Expedited Service: 3-4 weeks possible for urgent marine repairs or art installations with surcharge.
Q5: What quality certifications do you provide for marine and industrial bronze castings? Material Certification: Chemical composition analysis OES confirming bronze alloy per ASTM B584 specifications ±0.5%, tin/aluminum/copper content verification, mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, hardness) per ASTM B505 test bars cast with production, heat number traceability complete. Dimensional Inspection: CMM inspection reports for complex geometries (propellers, impellers), first article inspection (FAI) complete dimensional verification, in-process inspection, final inspection reports. NDT Testing: X-ray radiography 100% for critical marine and aerospace components detecting porosity/inclusions per ASTM E155, liquid penetrant testing surface crack detection per ASTM E1417, pressure testing for pressure-containing components (valves, manifolds). Marine Certifications: Working towards ABS Type Approval for marine propellers and valve bodies, Lloyd’s Register approval process, material compliance with marine classification society requirements. Art Certifications: Certificates of authenticity for sculpture editions, edition numbering, artist statements, foundry marks.
Contact Us Today – Request Quote for Bronze Investment Castings
Ready to discuss your bronze investment casting requirements for marine components, sculptures and art castings, architectural hardware, pump impellers, valve bodies, or custom bronze castings?
Request a Quote: Send drawings (PDF, DWG, STEP, IGES), photos, 3D scans, or physical samples, specifications including bronze alloy (C90700/C95400/C87300), quantity, surface finish, application details to sales@jambrass.com for detailed quotation within 48 hours.
Engineering Support: Email design concepts for DFM review, material selection guidance, cost optimization, prototype development, sculpture casting consultation.
Call Us: +91-22-43449300 / +91-22-43449323 (Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM IST)
Office Address: 1406, 14th Floor, Dalamal Tower, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021, Maharashtra, India
Factory Address: Plot 10B, GIDC Industrial Estate, Shanker Tekari, Udyognagar, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India – 361004
Contact Person: Mr. Mehul Vora
Email: sales@jambrass.com
