How a Rf Component Is Made

Primary process: Investment Casting. The full route, materials, tolerances and design tips for a rf component, with an indicative cost.

Investment CastingPrimary process
CastingFamily
8Route steps
+/-0.2mmTypical tol.

A rf component is primarily made by Investment Casting. Investment casting builds a wax pattern, coats it in a ceramic shell, melts the wax out, then pours metal into the cavity. It gives near-net shape with fine detail. Below is the full route to make a rf component, the materials it suits, the tolerances to expect and the main design points. The route is free, from the finder.

Step by step

How a rf component is made

The usual route, raw material to finished part. The amber step is where the rf component gets its basic shape.

  1. Alloy and tooling

    Choose the casting alloy for the rf component and make the pattern or metal die that forms the cavity.
  2. Investment Casting

    Melt the metal and pour it into the mould, then let the rf component solidify and cool.
    Tooling Medium to high   Tolerance ±0.1 to 0.5mm   Lead 3 to 8 weeks
  3. Fettling and cleaning

    Cut off the gates and risers, grind away the flash, and clean the raw casting.
  4. Machining

    Machine the mating faces, bores and datum surfaces to final tolerance: the as-cast surface is too rough for close fits.
    Tooling None   Tolerance ±0.125mm, to ±0.025mm   Lead 1 to 10 days
  5. Hole making

    Drill, ream and tap the fixing and functional holes.
    Tooling None   Tolerance ±0.05 to 0.2mm   Lead hours to days
  6. Heat treatment

    Stress-relieve or harden the rf component to reach the strength and hardness the design needs.
    Tooling n/a   Tolerance can distort   Lead days
  7. Surface finish

    Plate, anodise or powder coat for corrosion resistance and appearance.
    Tooling Low   Tolerance adds 0.05 to 0.2mm   Lead days
  8. Inspection

    Check critical dimensions and, for any part that holds pressure, leak-test before it ships.

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Precision

Tolerances to expect

TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
+/-0.2mm typicalcoarsefine+/-1mm+/-0.1mm+/-0.01mm+/-0.005mm
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials

Materials for a rf component

GradeWhy it suits this
Stainless 17-4PH / 316Strong, corrosion resistant
Carbon/alloy steelStrong, cheaper
Superalloy (Inconel)High-temp
Design

Design tips

General pointers. The full design-for-manufacturing list for a rf component is in the dossier.

  • Isolated heavy sections. Core out or add feeders.
  • Tight tolerance left as-cast. Add a machining stock face.
Cost

What a rf component should cost

Near-net and great finish, so it saves machining on complex parts; the wax die is the cost to amortise.

PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
one-offat volumeVolume per order, low to highCost per part
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for a rf component at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$360 to 1005 per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
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Everything you need to quote and source it

The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on a rf component and buy it well:

  • Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
  • Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
  • A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
  • The full DFM list and a ready-to-send RFQ draft

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See also: How Investment Casting works and the full route for a rf component in the finder.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How is a rf component made?
A rf component is primarily made by investment casting. The route is: Alloy and tooling; Investment Casting; Fettling and cleaning; Machining; Hole making; Heat treatment; Surface finish; Inspection.
What does a rf component cost?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $360 to 1005 per part at 1 off and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. A model estimate, not a quote.
What material is a rf component made from?
Common choices are Stainless 17-4PH / 316; Carbon/alloy steel; Superalloy (Inconel).
What is the main process for a rf component?
Investment Casting. Complex, detailed metal parts needing a good finish and tight tolerances, including superalloys and turbine hardware.
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