Stainless steel castings are solid pieces of metal formed by pouring molten stainless steel into a mold. Stainless steel castings are used in various automotive, construction, and aerospace industries. Stainless steel casting suppliers provide the materials and expertise to cast stainless steel components into usable products. They typically specialize in producing high-quality parts with tight tolerances to meet customer specifications and providing services such as machining and inspection of finished parts. A key role of casting parts supplier is to ensure that the supplied components meet customer requirements for quality, performance, cost-effectiveness, and safety standards.
What Does Casting Mean In The Manufacturing Process?
Casting is a process in the manufacturing industry in which liquid materials, such as metal alloys, are poured into a mold, allowed to solidify, and removed from the mold. The solidified part is then used as-is or formed further into another part or product. The process is repeated multiple times to produce copies of the same part. There are several different casting methods, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
One type of casting—sand casting—is used to make a mold. First, a pattern is created that resembles the object to be made; then, sand is packed around the pattern and allowed to dry. When the mold is dry, molten metal is poured into it and allowed to cool. Once it is hard enough to be removed from the mold, the sand is broken away from around the part. Sand casting is less expensive than other casting methods and can produce significant components.
Die casting is another type of metal casting. In die casting, molten metal is poured into a steel mold at high pressure, where it cools quickly and solidifies into a part with a smooth surface finish and tight tolerances. This method is more expensive than sand casting because it requires specialized tooling.
A third method, called investment casting (also known as lost-wax casting), involves coating a wax pattern of the desired part in ceramic material and then heating it to melt the wax. Molten metal is poured into a mold of ceramic powder, which is then heated to high temperatures until it solidifies. The ceramic is then broken away to reveal the final part. This process is expensive and time-consuming, but it’s ideal for intricate details or complex geometries.
There are many other casting methods, such as permanent mold casting, lost foam casting, and centrifugal casting, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. They’re appropriate for specific use cases.
Why Cast Stainless Steel
Cast stainless steel is the most commonly used material for manufacturing machine parts and equipment because it is resistant to corrosion. Still, it is also used because it is steel. In addition, castings made from stainless steel have other benefits:
- High Accuracy : Investment casting makes highly accurate, almost interlocking stainless steel cast parts. Every part is made using the same wax patterns so that the final product remains uniformly precise.
- Customized Design : Castings made of stainless steel can be made in any shape. They are also ideal for logos, and product identifiers, on the inside and outside of the components. Many complex castings cannot be forged or machined so they can be produced by casting.
- Good Hardness : Compared to other casting alloys, stainless steel alloys have a higher hardness. High hardness is vital in cast parts because it means the part won’t dent or wear down as quickly. This increased longevity saves money and time.
Cast Stainless Steel Commonly Created Products
Some commercial products you come across use cast stainless steel parts and components or are even made of aluminum.
- Medical Components : Stainless steel is widely used in the medical field because of its strength and resistance to corrosion. Not only are some of the most common components, including various pump parts and surgical instruments, made from stainless steel, but even hospital bed tools.
- Machine Parts : Stainless steel has excellent strength and corrosion resistance, which has led to its widespread use in automotive parts. For example, exhaust pipes are made of stainless steel. In addition, other car parts are made of stainless steel castings, such as transmission parts and interior components.
- Marine Equipments : The industrial metal stainless steel can be used in marine applications and in many other fields. The metal is durable and resistant to rusting, making it ideal for use on boats. Some standard marine-grade products from stainless steel include boat deck drains, handrails, boat anchors, and more.
- Kitchenware : Stainless steel has been a kitchen staple for decades. It can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher and is durable to last many years. Typical stainless steel kitchen accessories include a meat grinder part, panhandle, etc.
Zetwerk is a well-known casting supplier that offers its customers a wide range of services. With advanced technology-driven casting solutions, we provide an efficient and cost-effective way for companies to get casted parts or components. With our experienced team of experts, Zetwerk ensures that customers get the best quality, efficiency, and cost savings.