Types of Iron in sand casting
Wrought Iron The first type of iron produced and worked by blacksmiths was wrought iron. It is virtually pure elemental iron (Fe) that is heated in a furnace before being wrought (worked) with hammers on an anvil. Hammering iron expels most of the slag from the material and bonds the iron particles together. During the […]
Tolerances are Material Dependent
The difficulty of manufacturing a part to a specific tolerance can be very material dependent. Generally, the softer a material is, the harder it is to hold a specified tolerance due to the material flexing while cutting. Plastics such as Nylon, HDPE, and PEEK may not hold as tight tolerances as steel or aluminum without special tooling […]
What is Molding Sand in Sand Sasting?
Molding sand has three important advantages over other mold materials: it is inexpensive, it is easily recycled, and it can withstand extremely high temperatures. Sand casting is one of the few available processes for metals with high melting temperatures such as steels, nickel, and titanium. Because of its flexibility, heat resistance, and relatively low cost, […]
Tighter Tolerances Can Change Inspection Requirements
Keep in mind how features will be inspected when adding tolerances to your parts. If a feature is difficult to machine, it is likely also difficult to measure. Certain features require specialized inspection equipment, and this may increase part costs.
Quality Control in Steel Investment Casting
Quality control in steel investment casting is integral to ensuring precise and reliable components. The process begins with a thorough inspection of wax patterns, correcting any deviations from design specifications. Subsequent checks verify the ceramic shell’s integrity and uniform coating, with a keen focus on eliminating wax residues during the dewaxing process. Critical stages like […]
Tighter Tolerances Can Mean a Change in Manufacturing Process
Specifying tighter than standard tolerances can actually change the optimal manufacturing process for your parts. For example, a hole that can be machined on a vertical mill at one tolerance range may need to be bored on a lathe in a tighter tolerance range, adding set-up costs and lead time. Even tighter tolerance requirements may require grinding […]
Tighter Tolerances = Increased Costs
It is important to keep in mind that a tighter tolerance can result in additional cost because of increased scrap, additional fixturing, special measurement tools and/or longer cycle times because the machine may need to slow down in order to hold the tighter tolerance. Depending on the tolerance call out and the geometry associated with […]
Applications of Steel Investment Casting
Steel investment casting is widely applied across industries for its ability to produce intricate and highly precise components. In the aerospace sector, it is used for turbine blades and engine components, while the automotive industry relies on it for manufacturing engine parts and transmission components. In medical equipment, steel investment casting is utilized for surgical […]
The Steel Investment Casting Process
Here are the key steps involved in the steel investment casting process: Wax Pattern Creation: Injection Molding: Create wax patterns by injecting molten wax into molds. Pattern Assembly: Assemble wax patterns for the next casting stages. Shell Building: Coating: Apply ceramic coatings to the wax assembly. Drying: Thoroughly dry the coated pattern. Stuccoing: Reinforce the […]
Rapid Injection Molding
Rapid plastic injection molding is a process that results in a very durable set of identical parts for testing with multiple backup parts. Rapid injection molding can be used for high-fidelity product evaluations and bridge tooling for temporary production at a product launch. The typical lead time for rapid tooling is 2-3 weeks for the initial […]
