Comparing Foundry Options
How to Choose the Right Foundry for Metal Tubing Manufacturing
Key Considerations for Metal Tube Part Manufacturing
Finding the right foundry to manufacture your metal tube part requires careful consideration of several key factors. Here are some essential points to keep in mind:
- Material Variety and Specialization: Look for a foundry that offers a wide range of materials and specializes in the specific metal you need. This ensures that your requirements are met with precision and expertise.
- Domestic Material Procurement: Opt for a foundry that procures materials domestically to guarantee a reliable supply chain. This helps mitigate risks associated with international sourcing and ensures consistent quality.
- Modern Equipment and Maintenance: Choose a foundry that utilizes modern, well-maintained equipment. This not only enhances cost savings but also reduces the likelihood of defects, ensuring high-quality products.
- In-House Expertise: Seek a foundry with in-house expertise, including secondary processes and material testing. This ensures seamless coordination and comprehensive support throughout the manufacturing process.
No foundry can be everything to everybody, but finding a quality foundry that can produce your part right on spec is crucial to your business. Most importantly, you’ll need to consider your design’s specific requirements.
How to Decide Between Custom vs. Standard Tubing
When deciding between custom and standard tubing, it’s important to consider the details of each choice to make the best decision for your project.
Customization offers:
- Tailored solutions: Precision-engineered tubing to exact specifications.
- Potential cost savings: Eliminate unnecessary features, saving in the long run.
- Time optimization: Enhance efficiency and performance, reducing assembly time.
Standard tubing provides:
- Immediate availability: Ready-to-ship stock for quick access.
- Cost savings: Lower costs due to economies of scale.
- Convenience: Faster implementation, reduced lead times.
Click here to read our in-depth article detailing the differences between custom and standard tubing.
What to Look for When Choosing the Right Casting Method
Whether you’re manufacturing components for defense or luxury vehicles, knowing what casting method is right for your component can prevent costly errors and ensure a better tube part.
Each method offers different benefits and drawbacks. It pays to examine in detail the four common techniques:
- Sand casting: Molten metal is poured into a sand mold to create the desired shape.
- Investment casting: A wax pattern is created, coated in ceramic, and the wax is melted to leave a mold for the poured metal.
- Continuous casting: Molten metal is continuously poured into a mold, solidifying into a continuous length of metal.
- Centrifugal casting: Molten metal is poured into a rotating mold, producing cylindrical parts with enhanced density and strength.
Read further our blog post to learn more and get the information you need to make the best choice for your project.
Comparing Spuncast with Other Centrifugal Casting Foundries
When assessing centrifugal casting foundries, consider the following essential capabilities. We’ve provided our specifications for your reference – feel free to compare us with other options. Additionally, we’ve included a downloadable PDF for a convenient side-by-side comparison.
| Foundry Capabilities | Spuncast | Competitor A | Competitor B |
| Tube Wall thickness | .25” to 4” (sometimes larger) | ||
| Tube Diameters | 2.5” to 44” | ||
| Machined Tolerance Control | OD +/-.010, ID+/-.003 | ||
| Machined Surface Finish | 500 to 8 RMS | ||
| Metal Selection | 200+ alloys | ||
| Size Range | Up to 300” long | ||
| Volume Capacity | Prototype to unlimited volume capacity | ||
| Tooling Costs | Onsite molds minimize tooling expense, keeping costs low | ||
| Warranty | Lifetime | ||
| Shipping | In-house option | ||
| Machining | In-house | ||
| Metallurgical Testing | In-house |
Ready to make informed decisions and choose the best foundry for your project’s success? Download the PDF and discover the perfect match for your requirements!