Connecting Rod Investment Casting

Product Overview

Connecting Rod is a precision investment casting component manufactured by Wuxi Huayong Metal Technology Co., Ltd. Our investment casting process ensures exceptional dimensional accuracy, superior surface finish, and excellent mechanical properties. Unlike sand casting, investment casting produces near-net-shape components with minimal machining requirements, reducing overall cost and lead time.

All our connecting rod castings are custom manufactured based on customer drawings or samples. We work closely with our clients' engineering teams to optimize designs for castability, ensuring high-quality, defect-free castings at competitive prices. Every component undergoes rigorous quality control including chemical analysis, mechanical testing, and non-destructive testing.

Material Options

We offer a wide range of materials for connecting rod castings, including stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, copper alloys, and heat-resistant alloys. All materials are sourced from certified suppliers and verified with spectrometer analysis.

Material Family	Common Grades	Key Properties	Typical Applications
Stainless Steel	CF8M, CF8, CF3M, CF3, 316L, 304L	Excellent corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties	Chemical, food, marine, water treatment
Carbon Steel	WCB, WCC, LCC, LC2	Good strength, weldability, cost-effective	Oil & gas, power, general industrial
Alloy Steel	WC6, WC9, C5, C12A, 42CrMo	High temperature strength, wear resistance	Power generation, high-temp service, automotive
Duplex Steel	CD4MCu, CD3MN, 2205	High strength, excellent pitting resistance	Oil & gas, desalination, chemical
Copper Alloy	C95400, C93200, C83600, Tin Bronze	Excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance	Bearings, gears, marine, decorative
Heat Resistant	HK30, HU31, 310S, 309S	High temperature oxidation resistance	Furnace parts, heat treatment, power

Manufacturing Process

1. Pattern Making

We produce high-precision wax patterns using injection molding. The wax patterns are exact replicas of the final connecting rod, including all internal passages and external features.

2. Shell Building

The pattern tree is repeatedly dipped into ceramic slurry and coated with refractory sand. This process is repeated 6-8 times to build a strong, heat-resistant ceramic shell.

3. Dewaxing & Preheating

The ceramic shell is placed in an autoclave where steam melts the wax, which drains out. The empty shell is then preheated to 1000-1100°C to remove residual moisture.

4. Melting & Pouring

Metal is melted in induction furnaces under carefully controlled conditions. The molten metal is poured into the preheated ceramic shells.

5. Shell Removal & Cutting

After solidification and cooling, the ceramic shell is removed by mechanical vibration and blasting. The individual components are then cut from the sprue.

6. Heat Treatment

All castings undergo proper heat treatment to achieve optimal mechanical properties and material structure.

7. CNC Machining

The cast connecting rod are precision machined on CNC lathes and machining centers. We maintain tight tolerances on critical dimensions.

8. Surface Treatment & Testing

Finished components undergo surface treatment and comprehensive quality testing including dimensional inspection, chemical analysis, and non-destructive testing.

Quality Control & Testing

We maintain rigorous quality control at every stage of production to ensure that every Connecting Rod meets or exceeds customer specifications:

• Chemical Analysis: Spectrometer analysis of every heat, with full material test certificates (EN 10204 3.1)
• Mechanical Testing: Tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and hardness testing per ASTM A370
• Dimensional Inspection: CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) inspection of critical dimensions
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Radiographic testing (X-ray), liquid penetrant testing, ultrasonic testing as required
• Microstructure Examination: Metallographic analysis to verify grain structure and detect defects
• Pressure Testing: Hydrostatic pressure testing for pressure-containing components

Applications

Our connecting rod castings are used in a wide range of industries and applications:

• Oil & Gas: Upstream, midstream, and downstream processing, refineries, pipelines
• Chemical Processing: Acid handling, chemical reactors, transfer lines
• Power Generation: Thermal power, nuclear power, renewable energy
• Water Treatment: Desalination, wastewater treatment, water distribution
• Food & Beverage: Processing, filling, CIP systems, sanitary applications
• Pharmaceutical: Drug manufacturing, sterile processing, biotech
• Marine: Shipbuilding, offshore platforms, desalination
• Automotive: Engine components, transmission parts, exhaust systems
• Aerospace: Aircraft components, turbine parts, structural components
• Pulp & Paper: Bleaching, chemical recovery, stock preparation

Why Choose Huayong for Your Connecting Rod Castings?

• Complete In-House Capability: From wax pattern to final CNC machining — all under one roof for better quality control
• Material Expertise: Experienced in stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, copper alloys, and specialty alloys
• ISO 9001 Certified: Rigorous quality management system with full traceability
• Custom Manufacturing: All parts made to your exact drawings and specifications
• Competitive Pricing: Factory-direct pricing with no middleman markup
• Fast Response: Quotations within 48 hours, technical support 24/7
• Global Export Experience: Serving clients in Europe, North America, Middle East, and Southeast Asia
• Flexible MOQ: From prototype quantities to mass production

Engineering Design Tips for Automotive Castings

1. Heat-Resistant Alloy Selection

For exhaust components and turbocharger parts, select heat-resistant alloys such as HK30, HH30, or custom nickel-based alloys. These materials maintain strength at operating temperatures up to 1000°C+.

2. Weight Optimization

Investment casting allows for complex lightweight designs with internal rib structures. Use topology-optimized geometries to reduce weight while maintaining structural rigidity. Minimum wall thickness: 2.5mm for steel alloys.

3. Mounting Bracket Design

For engine and suspension brackets, design with generous fillet radii (minimum R3) at stress concentration points. Consider directional solidification patterns to ensure soundness in load-bearing areas.

4. Surface Treatment Options

Automotive castings often require specific surface treatments: shot blasting for uniform finish, glass bead blasting for cosmetic parts, ceramic coating for heat management, or painting/powder coating for corrosion protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What automotive components do you cast?

A: We cast turbocharger housings, exhaust manifolds, engine brackets, suspension components, brake caliper bodies, steering knuckles, connecting rods, and custom automotive parts.

Q: Can you meet automotive industry quality standards?

A: Yes, our quality system is certified to ISO 9001. We can implement PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) documentation and meet IATF 16949 requirements as needed for automotive OEM programs.

Q: What materials are used for high-temperature automotive parts?

A: For exhaust and turbo components, we use HK30, HH30, HF30 heat-resistant steels, and nickel-based alloys like Inconel 713C. For structural parts, we use alloy steels and stainless steels.

Q: Can you support prototype to production transitions?

A: Yes, we support rapid prototyping (3D printed wax patterns for low volumes) through to full production with hard tooling. This allows for design iteration before committing to production tooling.