Foundries continue to evolve by adopting innovative technology & workplace safety A foundry is an industrial plant where metal is melted and cast into specific shapes by pouring it into a mold. The process itself is centuries old. Today, approximately 90% of all manufactured goods depend on met

Engineering metal castings for quality and value Good metal casting design means creating the simplest mold that will produce a desired shape. This process requires expert knowledge of metals and casting methods to find the best value in a quality casting. End-users often need to know how a cast me

3D printing’s impact on sand and investment casting 3D Printing is one of many advances that allow faster prototyping. A designer, entrepreneur, or inventor gets an idea and begins the process to bring it to life. At first the idea is made of sketches and plans, research and design, but the desig

See the green sand casting process Although there are many types of metal casting, sand casting is by far the most commonly-used type. The process sounds deceptively simple. A replica of the desired metal item is pushed into foundry sand, where it creates a hollow “negative” of the object. That vo

Wax or wood patterns for metal casting In metal casting, patterns are the objects used to create expendable molds. A single pattern can make up to thousands of molds. There are different types of patterns, but they fall into two major subtypes: reusable ones for sand or plaster casting, which make

How to make green sand for metal casting Molding sand is at the heart of the sand casting process. It must hold a shape well and capture the fine details of a casting, yet be permeable enough to allow gases to escape. Under the strain of having the molding pattern removed from it, or while it is f

Cores support complexity in sand casting What is a core in metal casting? A core is a sand or metal insert used to shape any part of a casting that cannot be shaped by the primary removable pattern. When a pattern is pressed into sand and then extracted it leaves a concave impression. Liquid metal

Freeing the new casting from the mold Although not as visually dramatic as melting and pouring, the shakeout of a new metal casting is still an impressive experience. When a casting is first pulled steaming from the mold, it is covered in sand debris and excess metal material. It must pass through

Machining, assembling, and sealing the casting There are different branches of metal work. One branch involves the cutting, forming, joining, or sealing metals in their solid state. Castings are another branch, in which objects are made by pouring liquid metal into molds and allowing them to cool.

A critical step in qualifying metal parts using a non-destructive approach Hardness testing is a quality test used in foundries to measure the properties of cast metals and their suitability for different applications. Its popularity is due to the non-destructive nature of the test, and its relatio

How foundries use 3D printers for rapid product design Product development is an exciting process of discovery. Investing in new products demonstrates a company’s commitment to the needs of its customers. Research and development can take a long time, iterations of building and adjusting models an

A history of industry and development in British Columbia Before Vancouver became the City of Glass, it was host to a strong industrial base—necessary in supporting the industry and development of BC. Mining, fisheries, and forestry were primary drivers of economic growth, and Vancouvers location

Analyzing the composition and grade of foundry metal Spectrochemical analysis is a type of chemical analysis used to determine the arrangement of atoms and electrons within molecules of chemical compounds. It observes the amount of energy absorbed during changes in motion or structure. The waveleng

How to form complex castings with sand molds Sand casting is a process that utilizes non-reusable sand molds to form metal castings. On one hand, casting is a deceptively simple manufacturing process: anyone who has formed castles at the beach knows sand can be used to make detailed shapes. Howeve

How a “sunset” family company adapted to a changing market Neither Brent nor Brad Done saw themselves becoming foundry men. Reliance Foundry had always been in their lives: the factory was a hot, smelly, dirty place that was equal parts proud family legacy and tough taskmaster. Their grandfather,

A trip through a foundry from pattern to product This series follows a cast iron or steel product through the metal casting process in a traditional foundry. Casting is the process of creating metal objects by pouring liquid metal into molds, where it cools and hardens into the mold’s shape. Altho

Finding casting defects through destructive and non-destructive testing Every step in the process of metal casting, from patternmaking to heat treating, is done carefully to avoid problems with the soundness, surface finish, mechanical properties, and final dimensions of the finished casting. Yet

Dive deep into surface, inclusion, molding, pouring, and cooling defects Metal casting in foundries is a complex process. Testing methods are in place to help inspect castings for quality assurance. These inspection methods help identify potential casting defects. Like other manufacturing processe

A skilled trade for those who are organized, precise, and problem-solve under pressure Reliance Foundry is known for bollards, but we also specialize in industrial wheels. We work with millwrights who need a high degree of confidence in the quality of parts. After the purchase order is in, it’s of

Overview of forging knives Before we dive into how to forge a knife, let’s cover the history of bladesmithing. Knife forging dates back millions of years. The oldest known knives were made by humans 2.5 million years ago when blades were made of rock, bone, and flint. These materials were brit