What is Gold Casting?
In Simple way gold casting is process to make jewelry by pouring molten gold in mold and allowing it to cool and solidify. This is very common method these days.
Type of Gold Casting
There many method for gold casting but in current time some of the methods are.
Vacuum Casting : Vacuum casting is process where jewelry manufacturing take place under vacuum pressure. To prevent porosity molten gold poured in to flask inside vacuum chamber. When metal is cured remove plaster and wash metal tree with water jet. Vacuum casting is vastly used jewellery making method these days.
Centrifugal Casting: As its name suggest molten metal poured in rotating flask with high pressure centrifugal force. Other process remains same like washing, cleaning but problem with centrifugal casting is that it is very difficult to prevent porosity also it’s surface finish is not as good as vacuum casting. This method is used small scale jewelry manufactures and mostly for low carat jewelry.
Process of Gold Casting
This are general process of gold casting.
Creating Design: First step to create design with CAD software. Consider all parameter like size, weight, stone placement etc. Then with help of resin 3D printer prepare piece of jewelry.
Prepare Tree: Make tree with help of sprues. Sprues is pathway for molten gold to reach to cavity and escape way for any air. Tree is attached to rubber base.
Investment Casting: Now tree is place in flask and special casting plaster add into the flask. When plaster harden remove rubber base that allow resin to escape and create cavity inside flask Mold.
Burnout Process: Place flask in burnout furnace. Temperature increases gradually and slowly remove all resin and leave cavity like our jewelry piece.
Gold Casting: Now our flask ready for casting. Takeout flask from furnace and place in your casting machine start vacuum and pour molten gold in flask cavity. Gold will fill cavity and take shape of our jewelry.
Cooling Process: Once you pour all molten gold in flask now wait for flask to cooldown. Care fully remove flask from casting machine chamber and place it in room temperature. Once cool down remove plaster and wash it with water jet.
Polishing Process: Now clean and remove any roughness. Polish it and your piece is ready. If design include gemstone add it check for quality and your jewelry is ready.
Note: This is general process of jewelry casting. Process may change as per casting requirement.
Alloys for Gold Casting.
Alloys play very important role in gold casting. Alloy help to achieve find finish, no porosity and help reduce losses during jewelry making process which is very important for jewelrs. Alloys are prepared with high purify base metal like 99.99% pure copper, Silver and other deoxidizer. Good alloy reduces losses, improve color and give nice smooth finish.
