Sprue

DEFINITION

It’s a channel through which molten alloy can reach the

mold in an invested ring after the wax has been
eliminated.
 ROLE OF A SPRUE

 Creates a channel to allow the molten wax to

escape from the mould.
 Holds the wax pattern to avoid distortion.
 SPRUE FORMER MATERIAL

WAX

RESIN

METAL
 WAX & RESIN
• Advantage –
 Burnable.
 Have a fusion temperature lower or almost
same of the wax pattern.

• Disadvantage –
 Lacks rigidity. (wax sprue).
 METAL
Must be mechanically removed prior to burn
out.
May cause investment to loosen from the
wall.
To avoid this former is uniformly coated with
wax before investing so it comes out on its
own during burn out.
ADVANTAGE OF HOLLOW OVER SOLID METAL
SPRUE

• Preferred as they hold less heat so will

cause less heat transfer to pattern
resulting less distortion.
• Retention is also better.
 SPRUE FORMER DIAMETER
 Larger diameter –
Preferred as molten alloy does not solidify before
the mold is filled.
 Disadvantage :
Heat from large sprue former might cause
distortion or actual melting of pattern.

So the diameter of sprue former should not be

more than 1/4 th of total area of wax pattern.
 SPRUE FORMER DIAMETER
GAUGE NO DIAMETER (cm)

06 0.4115

08 0.3264

10 0.2588

12 0.2053

14 0.1628

16 0.1291

18 0.1024
 LENGTH OF SPRUE FORMER

Pattern too close to the end of the ring

 Molten alloy may blast through the
investment.
Pattern too far away
 Gases may not escape rapidly enough.
The sprue former should not be too long so
that the gold will begin to solidify in the
sprue and cause porosity.
 LENGTH OF SPRUE FORMER
Type of investment Length in inch Length in mm

Gypsum bonded 1/4 from open end of ring 6 from open end of ring

Phosphate bonded 1/8 from open end of ring 3-4 from open end of ring
 LOCATION OF SPRUE FORMER
• Minimizes the effect of released
residual stress.
• Ensure that the thinner cross section of
the mold will be filled completely.
• Molten alloy will always be fluid
Should be attached enough and available until all lesser
to the bulkiest part dimension sections are adequately
of the wax pattern. filled.

* Normally,the largest non-functional cusp is used

 ATTACHMENT OF SPRUE FORMER

Should be attached at an angle to allow the

incoming molten metal to flow freely at all
portions of the mold.(about 45 degree)
 ATTACHMENT OF SPRUE FORMER
Should not be attached at right angle as the
melt may impinge the mold surface and
produce a so called ‘HOT SPOT’ producing
‘SUCK BACK’ porosity.

Should be directed away from any thin or

delicate part of pattern since molten metal
may abrade or fracture investment.
 RESERVOIR
Is a small amount of additional wax added to
sprue former 1 mm below the wax pattern.Reservoir
Reservoir

Function:
Compensate for the shrinkage occur during
soldification of casting.
RESERVOIR
 VENTING
• Small auxillary sprues or vents
have been recommended to
improve casting of thin patterns
and may help in:
• Gases escaping during casting
• Compensate for the shrinkage
during solidification.
 CRUCIBLE FORMER
• Usually made of rubber, which serves as a
base for the casting ring during investing.
• The sprue is attached to the crucible.
 SPRUING TECHNIQUE

DIRECT INDIRECT

The flow of molten metal Using a connector or

is straight i.e, direct from runner bar where the wax
casting crucible to the pattern sprue is attached.
pattern.
 NUMBER OF SPRUES

SINGLE MULTIPLE

DOUBLE
 CASTING RING AND LINER

• Casting ring serves as a container for the

investment while it sets and restricts the
setting expansion of the mold.
 RING LINER

A RESILIENT liner is placed inside the ring to

provide a buffer of pliable material against which
the investment can expand the mold.
 Functions:

• Creates space to allow for investment

expansion.
• Allow setting of investment material under
water to give hygroscopic expansion.
• Regulates heat transfer through the
investment material.
• Facilitate removal of investment from the
casting ring after casting.
• Thickness of the liner should be 1 mm.
• 3 mm short of both ends of ring will allow
supporting contact of investment with the ring
after liner has burned out.
• Material used as liner:
• Asbestos liner- carcinogenic.
• Cellulose(paper) liner.
• Ceramic (aluminosilicate) liner.
• Combination of ceramic and cellulose liner.