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AFS White Paper Helps Designers Choose Optimum Metalcasting Processes and Alloys

Posted on: Tuesday, 2 June 2009, 12:05 CDT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Foundry Society (AFS) announces the release of a new white paper, "Selecting Metalcasting Processes and Alloys For Optimum Component Design and Production." The white paper provides an overview of the most common metalcasting processes and alloys to help designers choose the right combination for a particular application.

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The paper describes the characteristics and benefits of the main molding processes - sand casting, permanent mold, diecasting, investment, ceramic and rapid prototyping - along with the properties of the six principal metalcasting alloy families: iron, steel, aluminum, copper, magnesium and zinc.

Each process offers advantages when matched with the proper alloy and application. Considerations when reviewing these processes and alloys to determine the most applicable method include:

• required surface quality;
• required dimensional accuracy;
• type of pattern/tooling/corebox equipment;
• cost of making the mold(s);
• how the selected casting process will affect casting design.

"The versatility of metalcasting gives designers tremendous latitude in developing components. However, it is essential that they understand the relationship of processes and alloys in order to unleash the power of metalcasting to create effective designs," said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president.

A Casting Process Matrix in the white paper provides a summary of the alloys that can be used with each process, along with a comparison of the primary characteristics for each process. Armed with this basic information, engineers and designers can make initial process choices or refine their selection using online tools, such as the Metalcasting Design.com Casting and Alloy Process Selector (CAPS) found at: www.metalcastingdesign.com. To obtain a copy of the white paper, visit www.afsinc.org/whitepapers.

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., AFS is a not-for-profit technical and management society that has existed since 1896 to provide and promote knowledge and services that strengthen the metalcasting industry for the ultimate benefit of its customers and society.

SOURCE American Foundry Society

Source: PR Newswire

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