Properties – What is cast iron? Cast iron contains a carbon content greater than 2%, typically somewhere between 2-4%. There is also the presence of silicon between 1-3%. The combination of the carbon and silicon give cast iron a great deal of castability, meaning that it is easier to create quality castings. Cast iron is...Continue Reading
The C.A. Lawton Co. and Penn-Mar Castings, LLC teamed up to teach an Iron 101 class to one of their customers. Unlike the typical Iron 101s, this one has a twist. Employees from both sites collaborated to teach their knowledge on metalcasting and foundries. The main focus of the Iron 101 was to showcase how...Continue Reading
Foundries have been setting high standards for recycling and inspiring other industries to adapt to their level of sustainability. For centuries, foundries have been making new metal objects by remelting old ones. For example, the oldest existing casting is a copper frog made in Mesopotamia dating back to 3200 B.C. Metalcasting facilities recycle more than...Continue Reading
Iron, in its pure form, is lustrous, silvery, and soft. Iron’s electrons can spin in the same direction, which means it effortlessly combines with alloying elements. Iron is also polymorphic. Its crystal structure can transform into different forms by changing the temperature and carbon content. Iron’s properties make it valuable to metallurgists and engineers. The...Continue Reading
Selecting a foundry can be challenging whether you’re involved in a new project startup that requires cast parts or if you’re relocating patterns to a different supplier. Here is a simple process that will help you to identify the right foundry for your needs. Step 1: Know your product The more knowledge and information you...Continue Reading
The Lawton Standard Co. announces the (re)launch of QESC (Quality Electric Steel Castings) as its latest growth initiative in response to constrained capacity in the domestic metal casting industry. The Lawton Standard Co. has recently added the facilities and team members of QESC (Houston, TX) to its growing casting business to respond to constrained industry...Continue Reading
Designing a pattern can be challenging, especially if you don’t have a well-defined process. At PMC, the design review process begins when the customer and the foundry’s casting engineer review the required casting shape. It consists of drawings or models of a casting-friendly pattern and more core boxes. Technical discussions typically include tolerances required, allowable...Continue Reading
Metal casters can develop complex shapes in many sizes using a wide variety of materials with unique properties that serve many different purposes. That’s why metal castings are vital to many key industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and mining. Without castings, these industries and the role they play in our everyday lives wouldn’t be the...Continue Reading
Have you ever wondered what Penn-Mar Castings can do for you? Be sure to check out our new capabilities document. Download our Capabilities document (PDF) PMC Capabilities FACILITY 80,000 sq ft facilityNon-union employeesGray and ductile iron castings: 150-5,000 lbs1,000 net ton capacity per month MELT 2- Two metric ton Inductotherm coreless induction furnaces MOLD MANUFACTURING...Continue Reading
A lack of casting knowledge is at the root of nearly every cost driver for castings. To complicate matters, even if you have general knowledge or experience in casting, every foundry uses different processes. What works to reduce cost in one operation can drive up the cost in another. Even if you have general casting knowledge,...Continue Reading
