When you request for a casting service, you expect to get a unique capability for the custom parts that is exactly what was specified in the design.
Here, you will be provided with guidelines, tips and all needed information to help your decision process when requesting for a bid and when selecting a foundry service to provide you custom casting project.
Image Source: Pexels
1. Take Time Upfront
Any Foundry that can’t spend a quality time upfront to design your custom parts isn’t the one to work with and you should tell if they are committed and investing time at this stage with the details they provide.
Also, you need to be able to take time off to make sure the bidders are well qualified to give you what you need. Time investment on both sides; helps you to narrow down to know who is best to work with.
2. Effective Communication
Just like any project, effective communication between the partners is key for it to be done exactly as it should. This goes for custom carbon steel casting as well. Provide all information needed to bidders; be thorough in your documentation so that you do not miss any process or step. Do not assume anything not stated, is understood.
3. Add a drawing
Even though it is possible to for foundries to give you a detailed documentation of your requirements, it is, however, of a great advantage for you to explain all the ideas in your mind in a possible way and this includes adding drawings, samples, images, models, specification to help in obtaining the strongest and most complete bid.
Also, it is mandatory for you to provide drawings when the pattern or sample you want isn’t available; and they must include dimensional tolerances, surfaces to be machined and you must also indicate the critical areas. If there would be letterings or numbering on the cast surface please show it and indicate if they will be recessed or raised. And when possible, give machine drawings and casting drawings separately.
It is important to provide your foundry with the information on critical areas that needs special attention on your drawings.
4. Provide information on the volume of materials needed
If advanced or specialized materials are needed for your carbon steel casting, you must specify all information on the projected and actual volumes; and the long or short term volume predictions and ordering schedules needed; as most companies do not store such volume in order to be able to provide them at affordable rates for custom casting.
Other tips are:
5. Include all pattern information
6. Clarify production schedules and delivery timelines.
7. Find out if the materials to be used are all ASTM standard.
8. Evaluate the bids, considering all provisions of the quotation.
Having a successful relationship with your foundry and getting them to send an accurate price quote is totally reliant on how detailed the information you provide is and how effective the communication is.
Add pattern information
The first important step in having a suitable and a high quality casting is by providing and creating high quality pattern equipment that is also suitable. Most of the misunderstandings, confusions and dissatisfactions between the customer and the foundry are usually as a result of poor or no upfront communication as regards patterning of the items. (A pattern is simply an imitation of the original item to be cast. It’s usually used to prepare the cavity that the molten solution will be stored when casting).
Finally, get a referral if companies offer similar services to save you time, make sure you obtain all information on the foundry companies, have clear communication and provide detailed information to help the foundries provide you with an accurate quote; do not assume they understand.
It is important to prepare a steel tool for weeks when engaging in permanent carbon steel casting, especially if they are nonferrous metals. Then, a production rate of 5-50 pieces/hour molds can only be achieved with a higher mass limit of 9kg/iron alloy item and up to 13kg for nonferrous metal parts and the lower limit of about 0.1kg for both. And as long as investment castings can produce parts weighing just fractions of an ounce, it also good to note that they are limited when it comes to the weight and size of parts made with sand casting.
