Casted Open Wire Rope Socket of Carbon Steel with 1.7231 (42CrMo)

The open wire rope spelter socket is the most important accessories for ropeways, structural applications and mining applications.The steel castings are used with ropes for safety critical applications such as load carrying structural members in structures frequented by people.

Being the manufacturer of a well-known structural rope company in Europe, TCC is experienced to manufacture from 1kg to 20kg different wire rope end connections . TCC ‘s steel castings is suitable for ropes to EN 12385 and applications to EN 1993.

The operating temperature for the steel castings and ropes is -50°C to +120°C.The Charpy Value is required K ≥ 27J at -20°C . The open socket is 100% has Type 3.1 of Certificates EN 10204.

For the material made by 1.7231 (42CrMo), as the unalloyed and low-alloyed steel castings are usually ordered with a zinc coating, typically applied by hot dip galvanization.These are two key processes for this rope end connection .With experienced treatment in this open sockets , TCC has these processes fully under control .

Tests and inspections shall be carried out in accordance to EN10204.

TCC provide a complete manufacturing service solution for each project and application.For more information on Wire Rope Socket, whether the carbon steel or stainless steel , please feel free to contact us.

Why choose Metal Injection Molding

Metal injection molding (MIM) is an effective way to produce complex and precision-shaped parts from a variety of materials. This process produces parts for 50% less than the cost of CNC machining or casting. MIM is able to produce parts with complex shapes, superior strength and excellent surface finish with high volume manufacturing.

Metal Injection Molding(MIM)Forming Process

MIM’s technology not only has less conventional powder metallurgy technology process, no or less cutting cutting cutting, high economic benefit, but also overcomes the traditional technology of powder metallurgy products low density low, uneven texture, mechanical performance, not easy forming thin-walled, after the shortcoming of complex structure, especially suitable for mass production of small metal parts, complex and has special requirements.

Metal Injection Molding(MIM)-Application Area

MIM process are found in numerous industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, medical/dental, and telecommunications. MIM components can be found in cell phones, sporting goods, power tools, surgical instruments, and various electronic and optical devices. 

How’s the Cost Compare to casting

By using this technology, skills and experience , TCC deliver a complete manufacturing solution for each project and application.For more information on metal injection molding and to determine if MIM is the best process for your part run, please feel free to contact us .

Choose Carbon steel or Aluminium alloy for Rocker arm in casting?

Considering the  mechanical performance  , C45 is better option for rocker arm than the aluminum alloy , however, C45 is easy to be rusty while aluminum alloy is light with good appearance .but what aluminum alloy is suitable, AlSi7Mg or AlMg10?

According to customer’s requirement and the materials parameters, TCC found the close material is AlSi7Mg or AlMg10 for gravity casting.

For AlSi7Mg, It is composed of  simple composition, easy melting and casting with good casting performance, good air tightness, the welding and cutting performance is also fine,  but the mechanical properties are so so . It is Suitable for casting parts with thin-walled, large area and complex shape , or not high requirement for strength, such as pump shell, gear box, instrument shell, and parts of home appliance parts . It mainly used for  sand casting and gravity diecasting.

For AlMg10, it  has the strongest corrosion resistance performance in existing aluminum alloys .The cutting performance is very good, welding performance is relatively good, the good  strength and anodic oxidation performance , but the casting process and the operation is also complicated, furthermore , it is easy has  loose, hot crack and other defects. It is suitable the  parts with large load in corrosive medium such as working temperature of under 150 degrees in ocean, eg. The  components in Marine or  ship, pump shell, impeller, frame and other parts in the petroleum industry . The technic is mostly sand casting .

TCC’s technician can draw the 3D drawing and propose the material for customer ‘s decision. If you have any inquiry , please feel free to contact TCC Casting.

Alloy precision casting for combustion

Investment casting combustion equipment has plays mission-critical roles in the refining, production, power, LNG, biogas, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and numerous other industries around the world.

The challenge of the process is the overall casting. The connection between each blade and the main body is casted rather than welded , so It has high technical requirements on casting.The entire product must pass the permeability and pressure testing .

TCC has produced the combustion casting parts since 2008 and has developed over thirty kinds of the component of burners parts .

Gravity Die Casting

In TCC Casting, our aluminum gravity die casting technique can make quality cast aluminum parts for a range of industries, including Marine, Cars & Trucks, Gas Turbines, Compressors, Pumps, Valves, Medical Equipment, etc.

What is Gravity Die Casting?

Gravity die casting, may also called as permanent mould casting, is a typical die casting technique to creat high quality metal components which have low melting points, such as aluminum and zinc alloys. In gravity die casting process, the molten metal is poured from a ladle into the mould, then fills the mould cavity under the force of gravity and fastly solidified to achieve metal parts. This process gives a better surface finish than sand casting as well as better mechanical properties, both due to rapid solidification.

Unlike other casting methods, gravity die casting is a simple pouring of the molten metal into the mould without any additional pressure applied. And, gravity die casting can use both metal and sand cores, referred to as semi-permanent mould casting, for greater complexity of design. It is the perfect choice for applications that require a solution that’s somewhere in between sand casting and high-pressure die casting. Gravity die casting requires lower mould cost than high pressure die casting, but more durable than sand casting by using a steel mould. The mould is a permanent form that consists of two halves.

Gravity Die Casting Process

Gravity die casting is often a manual process, with the molten metal added with the use of a ladle. However, for some high volume applications it is also possible to use an automated ladle to pour the molten metal. The speed and the direction of the filling can also be controlled by tilting the die.

Apart from the method by which the molten metal is poured into the die cavity, and the gravity die material, the casting process is essentially the same as sand casting. It involves four steps:

  • The die is heated and then sprayed with a refractory coating, and closed. The coating both helps control the temperature of the die during manufacture and it also assists in the removal of the casting.
  • Molten metal is then manually poured into the die, (although in some cases a machine can be used) and allowed to solidify.
    The die is then opened and the cast parts either removed by hand or in some cases ejector pins are used on the mechanised machines.
  • Finally, the scrap, which includes the gate, runners, sprues and flash, is removed from the casting(s). The castings are then processed to remove sharp edges and excess material, then blast cleaned (if required) prior to despatch to the customer.
  • Gravity die casting is a natural partner to sand casting, and allows us to offer the customer the most cost effective route for casting manufacture.

Advantages of Gravity Die Casting Process

One of the advantages of gravity die casting process is that it can produce high quality castings with complex shapes, while still maintaining excellent mechanical properties like strength. That makes it very suitable for creat aluminum castings that can not be satisifed by pressure die casting process.

Gravity die casting advantages include:

  • suitable for parts in both low and high-volumes.
  • suitable for larger, thicker parts that can not be produce by pressure die casting process.
  • less investment in mould compared with pressure die casting process.
  • produces components with far smoother surfaces than that of sand casting method.
  • produces parts with excellent mechanical properties, and T6 heat treatment can also be applied to improve the properties.
  • almost no dimensions limitation and complex shapes can be realized. For products with hollow areas, sand cores can be placed into the mould.

Tips on Selecting Gravity Die Casting Process

It is very important to select a suitable casting process for your design. Before making a decision, several factors should be taken into consideration, such as process limitation, production effeciency, investment, dimensional accuracy, surface finish, lead time, etc. Normally, purchasing companies prefer to buy castings from China foundries like TCC casting, due to its mature production process and low production cost.

Sometimes, a designed part is suited to both gravity die casting and pressure die casting processes (differences between gravity die casting and pressure die casting). Gravity die casting is suggested when the order quantity is small because it has lower mould cost. Remember not all the metals can be cast by this process, only metals that have low melting points are suitable. But for thinner parts, pressure die casting process is considered as it is easy to occur defects if choosing gravity die casting process.

When consider Aluminum Casting?

If you are familar with aluminum parts, you may also be interested in the forming processes of them, mainly including casting, forging and machining. Casting is a process that allows foundries to create products with complex shapes while light weight. The process begins by creating molds. Then, workers pouring melton aluminum alloy into molds to achieve desired shape.

Benefits of Aluminum Casting Process

Only Aluminum Casting Can Produce Intricately Designed Parts

One of the best reasons why a wide variety of industries and consumers choose aluminum casting is the fact that it allows the manufacturer to produce aluminum parts that have intricate designs. In other words, it’s possible for them to order customized aluminum castings that perfectly suit their production needs.

The Production Process of Aluminum Casting is Faster than Machining

With aluminum casting, you’ll be able to produce parts faster than machining process? Since it allows you to create near-net shapes, you can easily eliminate the process of machining to get your desired results. This implies that with aluminum casting, you’ll be able to produce the finished parts much sooner than you initially expected.

Aluminum Casting is Very Affordable

If you want to obtain top-quality metal products at a much cheaper price, choose aluminum casting process. Since this kind of manufacturing process require less machining, the unit cost is considerably lower compared to other alternatives.

Aluminum Castings are as Strong as Steel Castings

Despite being weighing very little, aluminum castings features the same strength as that of steel castings. Thanks to its superior metallurgical properties, aluminum castings exhibit a higher degree of pressure tightness. In fact, their strength advantage is evident over sand castings and other options.

When is Aluminum Casting Applied?

Manufacturers often use aluminum casting when forging or machining of aluminum alloys cannot be employed. This material that comes with a luminous finish is used in producing different commercial and household goods. To give you an idea about when aluminum casting can be used, below we list out some typical applications of cast aluminum parts:

Construction and Architecture

Since aluminum is known for its outstanding conductivity and its light weight that works well for extended lengths of cable runs, copper has now been replaced by aluminum as the base for electrical transmission lines and power grids. Furthermore, architects use aluminum castings for renovations that include ornamental door framings, rooftop corner pieces, and reinforcement pieces.

Aerospace

Since the combination of aluminum castings’ properties including its light weight and strength make them ideal for the development of vehicles that are both strong and light enough to go beyond the earth’s atmosphere, the aerospace industry has been greatly dependent on them. In fact, commercial transport planes are comprised of 80% aluminum castings. Plus, aluminum is extensively used in the space industry for shuttles as well as for various structures at the international space station.

Appliance and Technology

Aluminum castings are also used for refrigeration applications primarily because of its thermal properties and its light weight that allow easy transport.

Renovation and Restoration

In most cases, restoration projects can present unique challenges because they can be quite difficult to source designs that match the metal elements that need to be replaced. It doesn’t matter if the existing casting needs to be directly copied or a new master pattern needs to be carved – aluminum castings will be perfect for duplicating hard-to-find castings that can help you finish the historical restoration with the components that you need.

Want Investment Casting for your Next Project?

If you are interested in using aluminum gravity die casting or aluminum pressure die casting for your next project, contact TCC Casting!

Stainless Steel Investment Casting of Boat Steering Wheel

What is Boat Steering Wheel?

Boat steering wheel is the wheel moves the boat rudder which changes the direction of the vessel. This action is also what a tiller would do. The boat wheel is part of the entire steering system that can contain the pedestal, helm, helm controls, steering cables and other steering system parts. We carry many top-tier and popular brands for boat steering wheels including Schmitt & Ongaro, SeaStar Solutions, Edson, Sea-Dog, Uflex that offer a wide selection of replacement boat steering wheels to fit your boat. As the top leading stainless steel investment casting company, TCC Casting can customize and export boat steering wheels for our customers all over the world.

Stainless Steel Investment Casting of Boat Steering Wheel

Material: Marine Grade 316 Stainless Steel

316 stainless steel is a popular chromium, nickel, molybdenum-bearing stainless steel grade. For its good corrosion resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments, type 316 stainless steel is widely used in marine application, thus it is always referred to as marine grade stainless steel.

Compared with 304 stainless steel, molybdenum(Mo) element is added in 316 cast stainless steel boat steering wheel. Molybdenum(Mo) element can strength the molecular structure of boat steering wheel. Besides, Mechanical properties of 316 stainless steel boat steering wheel are better than that of 304 stainless steel boat steering wheel. This can make the life time of 316 investment cast boat steering wheel longer.

Manufacturing Process: Stainless Steel Investment Casting

Stainless steel investment casting is another name of stainless steel lost wax casting. It refers to make stainless steel components in lost wax investment casting process. TCC Casting is professional on stainless steel investment casting process. Main processes for stainless steel investment casting: wax/foam injection, trimming and welding wax trees, sand shell mould-making, dewax, baking the shell mould, casting, heat treating, shot blasting, inspection and packing.

Same as other marine hardwares, boat steering wheel can be produced by stainless steel investment casting process. Stainless steel investment casting process can control a better dimension accurancy and surface finish for boat steering wheels. Usually, no machining is required. Cast tolerance can reach ISO8062 CT5-CT6. Surface roughness of cast boat steering wheel is between Ra3.2 to Ra6.3. Surface finish of cast boat steering wheel can be shot blasted or mirror polished, which is mainly decided by our customers.

Besides boat steering wheel process, stainless steel investment casting process can also be used to make other marine hardwares, such as bruce boat anchor, boat propeller, boat rail base fittings, marine cross bollard, etc.

TCC Casting quotes and produce such stainless steel boat steering wheel or other products according to drawings or samples from customers. If your have such RFQ’s, please contact us. We will offer you our best prices and services.

Gravity Or Pressure Die Casting?

Aluminum alloys have the advantages of good plasticity, corrosion resistance and lightweight, making them ideal for automotive manufacturing, aerospace, shipbuilding and other fields. Due to the increasing demands of aluminum castings, the aluminum casting industry is rapidly growing in China. At present, the main aluminum casting methods are: pressure die casting and gravity die casting. As the professional aluminum casting company in China, let’s talk about the main differences between pressure die casting and gravity die casting.

Gravity Die Casting

Gravity die casting is a form of die casting that is prefect to creat repeatable high quality components in a range of low temperature metals. It involves a simple pouring of the molten metal into the mould under the force of gravity only and without any additional force applied.

Gravity die casting process can make parts that are net-shaped have tight tolerances. Sometimes, it is also called as permanent mold casting. Different from pressure die casting, pressure die casting is used for parts that are slightly heavier, larger in size, and have higher structural requirements than pressure die casting. For greater complexity of design, both the sand cores and metals could be used.

A unique feature of the gravity die casting method is that it can handle heat treatment of high strength aluminum alloys that pressure die casting still cannot. Suitable for castings requiring complex intricate coring and small production runs.

Pressure Die Casting

In pressure die casting, molten metal is injected into a steel mould under high pressure and high speed, the cooled for solidification to form a solid metal component. Typically, the process itself only takes a few seconds and is a quick reliable and cost-effective manufacturing process with a high degree of precision and repeatability. Different from gravity die casting, the process is automated and the liquid metal or alloy is injected under high force into a hardened steel tool.

The pressure die casting process has the advantage of excellent process repeatability. Generally, the surface finish of pressure die cast parts is achieved from the surface finish of the tool that produces it.

The unique feature of the gravity die casting method is that it can make parts whatever complex or thin the part is. Also, good strength can be obtained after the workforce of high pressure. The only limitation is that it costs higher mould cost compared to gravity die casting, and is not so cost effective if the volume is small.

Gravity Die Casting or Pressure Die Casting for Your Project?

When deciding a die casting method for your design, it is important to analysis the structure of the part, if the part is ratively thin and the quantity is large, then pressure die casting is preferred. But if the part is ratively thick and the quantity is small, it is ideal to consider gravity die casting process. If you are looking for a quality die casting supplier for your project, pls do not hesistate to contact us!

Stainless Steel Casting for Bruce Boat Anchor

Bruce type anchors are one of the most popular anchors for marine application and are known for their high holding power and self setting capability. For boaters anchoring in a variety of bottom conditions, including sand, mud, rock, and coral, bruce anchor is the boat anchor we recommend most. It has slightly less holding per pound than similar style anchors such as the Delta/Wing but it generally sets more easily. Each bruce anchor includes a small trip line point at the back of the anchor. While not used by most boaters, it offers the option to attach a secondary line to release the anchor in case there is a danger of the anchor getting snagged. Includes a lifetime warranty against breakage.

Bruce anchors are investment cast in stainless steel and made in a one piece, solid construction with no moving parts, this ensures durability and a long life expectancy. TCC Casting is the professional stainless steel casting manufacturer can supply custom service for bruce anchors in different sizes. With investment casting method and mirror polished surface, we can offer high dimensional accuracy and good surface finish.

Material: 316 Stainless Steel

Stainless Type 316 – often referred to as stainless steel marine hardware. Contains 16% chromium, plus the addition of molybdenum. Molybdenum is what makes, Type 316 ideal for applications around saltwater and other high chloride environments. Learning more on the benefits of using 316 stainless steel castings

Casting Process: Investment Casting

Investment casting, also named as precision casting or lost wax casting, is usually adopted to produce stainless steel casting parts for marine application. Bruce anchor, the most common boat achor, is generally designed and produced by investment casting process.

The investment casting process offers many benefits including cost savings, design freedom, close tolerances, better finishes, savings in machining time, reproducibility, and assembly savings.

TCC Casting can cast stainless steel bruce anchors from drawings or samples. With semi-automatic casting process, both the quality and production effeciency are higher than other foundries in China. The casting tolearance controlled in our foundry can be ISO 8062 CT5-CT6 level.

Surface Finish: Mirror Polishing

After investment casting, the surface of bruce boat anchors is a bit dark and rough.To achieve smooth and shinning surface, cast stainless steel bruce anchor are always mirror polished. Mirror polishing is a hand-polishing process involving several polishing steps, so it is slow but the cost is affordable. TCC Casting can provide mirror polishing service to deliver finished products to our customers.

316 Stainless Steel Investment Casting of Hawse Pipe

A ship’s hawse pipe is the pipe passing through the bow section of a ship that the anchor rode (chain, line, or both) passes through. The main function of the hawse pipe is to guide the chain from deck level to outside the shell plating. The hawse pipe should be constructed to a size large enough to accommodate the smooth running of the chain and to provide secure stowage of the anchor, permitting it to drop freely when released without jamming or risking damage to the hull structure.

It is made from investment casting process in 316 stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance and durability. The square hawse pipe can be flush mounted or recessed, and is easily installed using fasteners.

316 Stainless Steel Investment Casting of Hawse Pipe
316 Stainless Steel Casting of Hawse Pipe

Material: 316 Stainless Steel

Due to its strength, durability, and longevity, stainless steel is one of the most common investment casting materials for marine industry . The alloy of iron, chromium, and carbon has an improved corrosion resistance over regular steel, which, like most ferrous metals, rusts when exposed to water.

316 stainless steel is more commonly known as “marine grade stainless steel” as its enhanced corrosion-resistance properties make it ideal for use throughout the marine industry. The material you typically find being used in restaurants, commercial kitchens, etc. is 304 stainless steel, or “food grade” stainless steel.

Marine-grade stainless steel takes the inherent benefits of standard stainless steel and improves on them through increased levels of chromium and molybdenum. The addition of these elements provides a greater corrosion resistance than many of the other commercially available grades of stainless steel. This level of corrosion-resistance is absolutely essential for hawse pipe in ship. 316 stainless steel also provides incredibly high yield and tensile strength when compared to its weight, making it a truly ideal material for hawse pipe. In summerize, the benefits of 316 marine grade stainless steel are:

  • Enhanced corrosion resistance to withstand saltwater
  • Chemical-resistant
  • Incredible insulating properties
  • Durable and hardwearing, yet lightweight
  • Non-magnetic
  • High stress-to-rupture strength
  • Heat-resistant

Why Investment Casting for Stainless Steel Hawse Pipe?

Due to the nature of the process, investment castings can be held to much tighter tolerances than sand castings or forgings. This can be important and can avoid machining or other finishing operations. Investment casting offers near net-shape, thus reducing costly machining time. Investment casting is also capable of more reliable castings with much thinner walls than sand castings. Due to the thinner wall capability, investment castings produce substantially less scrap rates and lighter weight castings. Investment castings, in general, provide a much higher percentage of defect free-castings.

The investment casting or precision casting process is an excellent option for producing dimensionally accurate parts that require superior corrosion resistance for 316 stainless steel hawse pipe. The near net shape that is achieved with the hawse pipe outweigh the costs incurred through the less precise and less efficient process of sand cast. Since many highly corrosion resistant materials are cast on a regular basis, employing investment casting process makes good economic sense.

At TCC Casting, we manufacture thousands of stainless steel investment casting parts each year and have an outstanding track record of doing so in the industries fastest lead times at competitive prices. We also have the ability to provide parts with additional surface treatments such as mirror polishing to enhance corrosion resistance even more and provide parts with superior surface finishes. Our advantages also lie in:

  • Low cost, precision, long life tooling
  • Ability to cast intricate features with excellent corrosion resistance
  • Uniquely-designed quality control system
  • Affordable pricing
  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and prompt customer service
  • Quick and on time delivery

If you have any inquiry on custom hawse pipe or other marine hardwares, pls contact us freely!

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