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DESIGN ADVICE FOR DESIGNERS OF NON-FERROUS CASTINGS
Potential and existing customers often ask, "Which material should be used for this component?", "Can we anodise this alloy?", "What tolerance can reasonably be achieved on these dimensions?". We have attempted to collate the answers to these and many other questions.
The contents of this site are for guidance. If, for example, a particular dimension requires to be held within a closer tolerance than recommended here, it can often be achieved. When the initial questions have been answered and further information is required, we will be pleased to pass on the benefit of our experience to enable best advantage to be made of the processes we offer.
Please feel free at any point to contact our technical sales team for further advice. We also offer a free booklet, "Notes for Designers of Non-Ferrous Castings", which covers all of the topics discussed in this site in further depth. Complete the Contact Form for a free copy.
Selecting the Best Casting Method for Your Component
In order to select the most appropriate alloy in which to cast a component, designers should first select the most appropriate casting method. This decision is usually based on the anticipated production volumes of the component. It can also be influenced by considerations of the required dimensional accuracy and surface finish. It is often neccesary to obtain quotations for more than one process in order to decide which will be the most economic.
The Choice of Alloy
Once the most appropriate process has been selected, designers should decide upon the alloy which has the mechanical and physical properties most appropriate to the particular application, whilst also considering whether the casting characteristics are appropriate to the chosen process.
Our technical advice is given to the best of our knowledge, but without warranty.