Metal casting.
Sand. Investment.
Net-shape parts.
Metal casting services — sand casting, investment casting, die casting. Net-shape near-finished parts. Cost-effective at production volumes for complex geometry.
Key principles.
Cheap, large parts
Lowest precision casting. Iron, aluminum, brass. Engine blocks, manhole covers.
Precision
Lost-wax process. ±0.1 mm tolerance. Aerospace turbines, jewelry, surgical instruments.
High volume
Aluminum 380, zinc ZA-8. Mass production. Automotive, hardware.
Mid-volume
Reusable steel mold. Better than sand, cheaper than die. Automotive parts.
Complex shapes
Foam pattern vaporized in casting. Complex internal geometry.
Tubes, rings
Spinning mold for symmetrical parts. Pipes, rings, bushings.
FAQ
Casting vs CNC?
Casting net-shape, less waste. CNC any geometry, no tooling. Volume crossover ~500-1000 pieces.
Investment cast tolerance?
±0.1 mm typical. ±0.05 mm with careful process. Better than sand cast (±0.5 mm).
Material range?
Sand: iron, steel, aluminum, brass. Investment: stainless, superalloys, aluminum. Die: aluminum, zinc.
Tooling cost?
Sand: $1-5K patterns. Investment: $5-30K wax molds. Die casting: $50-300K steel die.
Surface finish?
Sand cast Ra 6-12 µm. Investment Ra 1.6-3.2. Die cast Ra 0.8-1.6 µm.
Post-machining?
Most cast parts post-machined for critical features. Plan as-cast surface for non-critical.