Metal Casting Processes
Different Types Of Castings Processes
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Metal Casting Processes
When it comes to selecting a casting process there are many options to choose from. Die castings, sand castings, investment castings. Or maybe you are looking for alternatives to sand castings or die-cast parts.
Whatever processes you are looking for, let our experts at Precise Cast Prototypes and Engineering help select the best processes for your next project.
Low-volume manufacturing
Built For Your Needs
At Precise Cast, we built our metal casting company around our customers’ needs.
We have found our casting processes to be faster and more cost-effective than die casting or investment castings. We built our company from the ground up to meet our customers’ most important needs.
This meant providing the absolute best solutions for metal castings and the most efficient processes.
Alternatives to Die Castings
Selecting a metal casting process is not as simple as selecting the “cheapest” per part price. For a variety of reasons other casting processes may be a better choice. With this in mind, we offer three possible alternatives to aluminum, zinc, and magnesium die casting:
Comparing Casting Methods
Cost
Die casting price- Don’t be fooled
Die-cast parts are generally one of the cheapest “per part” options available. However, when the cost of the tooling is factored in, it usually takes a large number of parts for die casting to “break-even” with other available processes.
Using our alternatives to die casting can save you time and money and even achieving a better cast part
Timing/Speed
How soon are the parts needed? Machined parts can be available in 1-5 days. Plaster casting and sand casting can often yield parts in 1-2 weeks. Die-cast parts often take a minimum of 8-12 weeks (usually 12+ weeks).
Selecting a Casting Process
Considerations When
Selecting a Metal Casting Process
The geometry and size of the part – See our casting tolerances and casting alloys charts.
The quantities required in a given timeframe – “High quantity” means different things to different people. It also is dependent on “how many parts do you need, and in what timeframe?” 12,000 parts in one batch is very different than 500 parts per month over two years. Due to up-front capital requirements and project budgets, it may be more desirable to pay more for each part and (much) less for the up-front tooling.
The strength required of the part – Metal parts are, by their nature,“strong”. Stronger is not always better. Each process yields parts with different strength, elongation, internal stress, and other physical characteristics. The process selected should be chosen according to how it meets all of the requirements.
Learn more about our metals and processes.
Metal Castings
More To Consider
The finish required on the part – some parts require a very smooth finish: others may not.
The thermal characteristics required of the part – Each casting process has a group of alloys that are best suited for that process. These alloys have different thermal characteristics. See the Metal Casting Physical Properties table for more information.
There is no “right” answer for every casting situation. If there’s one overriding want or need, that might tip the selection in one direction or another. Even if a process doesn’t rank highest in any one category, the overall combination of characteristics might make it the correct selection.
Casting parts price questions? Talk to the exerts!