Design Advice Design
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.
Need Some Extra Guidance?
If you need more information before you make any decisions, why not view our useful guide From Idea To Product, which covers the entire process of getting your idea manufactured.
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 necessary to obtain quotations for more than one process in order to decide which will be the most economic.
Machining Considerations
When machining castings, it is always advisable to discuss with the foundry the method of machining and the locations to be used as datums for each operation.
Surface Finishing
There are a variety of mechanical finishing processes which can enhance the aesthetic quality of castings. These processes can be used as a pre-treatment.
Notes for Designers of Non-Ferrous Castings
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HOW can MRT Castings help you?
I want...
- Select what you need
- a complete solution
- to develop a new component from initial concept
- advice on what processes are best suited to my component
- prototypes before committing to production tooling
- to re-shore production to the UK from overseas
- a new supplier to use existing tooling
- to convert a machined from solid part to a casting
- a supplier who can meet stringent quality requirements
New at MRT Blogs
Once again, MRT Castings have partnered with Brother and their UK agent, Whitehouse Machine Tools – a relationship that has spanned more than 25 years.
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At a time when young engineering talent is in short supply, MRT Castings is taking a proactive approach to recruitment.
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11th Sep 2025
MRT is delighted to announce the completion of the latest phase of our on-site redevelopment programme. Following the relocation to our new foundry building in 2021, Unit 4, the erstwhile home of our diecasting operations, was left empty and to be honest, a little worse for wear.
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