To heat an investment casting shell or lost-foam mould so that the internal pattern liquefies and drains away. This process evacuates the cavity without disturbing the delicate refractory coating, leaving a precise void ready for molten metal. It is typically done in a pressurized steam autoclave to prevent the expanding wax from cracking the ceramic shell.
Heard on the job
We need to melt out this batch of shells before the autoclave cools down.
Also heard as
- dewax