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Castings – Part 2: An Introduction
By Mark L. Casey | September 29, 2011
In a previous article we briefly introduced three casting approaches, each with its own application. In this article we will explore cast iron, miniature zinc, and brass casting.
Cast Iron
Cast iron is an alloy of carbon, iron, and other elements. It can be cast into a soft and strong iron, or into a hard and brittle iron, depending on the exact “recipe” and method used.
Here is a video on the casting of cookware at Le Creuset:
Miniature Zinc
Miniature zinc casting differs from conventional zinc casting in several ways. First of all, the tool used in miniature zinc casting is a four-slide tool that is considerably less expensive than conventional die cast tooling.
In addition, miniature zinc parts can hold precise tolerances. For example, it is not uncommon for parts to exceed standard linear dimensional tolerances of +/- .002″ and precision linear tolerances of +/- .0015″. Parts can also be die cast with thin walls down to 0.020″ in. with tolerances as tight as +/-0.001″ in.
For an example of the kinds of machines used in four-slide casting, check out this link:
Brass Casting
Like the casting of other alloys, molten brass is poured into a mold for formation. After the part is removed from the mold, a variety of finishing operations may be used. Here is a YouTube video of brass valves being created:
Topics: Brass Casting, Cast Iron, Miniature Zinc | No Comments »
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