LOSTWAXInvestment Casting

Casting weight calculator

Estimate part mass for different alloys from a CAD volume or a simple shape.

Calculator

Method, assumptions and limitations

Mass = volume × density. Volumes: block L × W × H; cylinder π/4 × D² × L; tube π/4 × (D² − d²) × L; sphere π/6 × D³. Densities are approximate room-temperature values for the cast alloy and can be overwritten. The result is the net mass of the modelled shape; it does not include gates, feeders or machining allowance, and real castings deviate with tolerances and any internal porosity.

Using the result

The quickest reliable input is the volume reported by the CAD system for the casting model. Changing the alloy then shows the effect of a material change on mass, for example from stainless steel to aluminium or to a nickel alloy. For price estimation, remember that the metal poured per part is considerably more than the net mass, because gates and the sprue are poured with it and are recycled.