Determining the Size of Your Investment Casting Project

One of the most important decisions you make about your investment casting project is to determine the size and scope of the project. This will impact everything throughout the project, from the cost of the your precision casting project to the timeline that it takes to complete it. At Intercast, our team of experienced experts can help use your information to figure out the size of the project and the way to tackle it, from the planning stages all the way to completion.

An Experienced Investment Casting Manufacturer

The first thing for you to keep in mind is that you are choosing a casting manufacturer that has the experience and capacity to take on your project. Not only must they have the ability and expertise to take on large projects, but also the manufacturing die casting process to create wax patterns and go through small, medium, or large production runs. The right company should be able to work with you no matter if you have a small project or a large one.

The next step in determining your project is assessing both your needs and your budget for the project. Think about what you are trying to achieve through the steel casting process, and what needs it will address for your business. It helps your budget to work with a casting company that can offer total cost reductions through total control of the supply process.

At Intercast, we operate as a maquiladora, with our foundry offering world-class pricing, excellent location, and outstanding customer service for our customers. We work with our customers through agreements such as Kanbans and managed inventory agreements to offer superior value no matter the market conditions. Our foundry uses extensive manufacturing and lean resources for the best in sustainability and quality on every project we handle.

Size, Shape, and Design of Your Cast

Another important factor for the size of your project is considering the size and weight and of your stainless steel cast. Along with the complexity of the design, this can impact how long the design process can take, as well as the length of time the actual casting process takes. This can be impacted by many things, including the geometry of the part to be cast. Our engineers work closely with you to optimize your part for the casting process, helping reduce weight and reduce costs, making the project more cost-effective and efficient in all ways.

We have complete design flexibility, with an infinite choice of alloys and the ability to design and produce nearly any type of configuration or shape. We can also work to produce the parts as either cast or finished machined, and will work with you to determine what is best for your project. Whether it’s a more simple part or something very complex, we are ready for the challenge of creating the most effective solution for your needs.

The type of alloy used for your project can impact the scope of the project as well, as different metals may have different castability and weight. In many cases, the type of alloy used will depend on your project, which is another reason it’s important to have an experienced company in your corner – we can give you the pros and cons of the different materials that you can use, helping you make the right decision for long-term sustainability of the casted part.

Timeline of Your Project

Another factor in thinking about the size of your project is your timeline, and how soon you need a finished part by. The more complex the part, the longer it will take, but there are ways to help mitigate that and speed up the timeline of your project. We have added rapid prototyping as a key part of our business offerings, which allows us to provide sample casting both more quickly and cheaper than our competitors. Our technology allows us to get a 3D printed pattern, which is then processed and casted.

Combined with our nearby foundry which allows for excellent communication and quicker shipping times, this reduces the lead times on all projects and allows for a delivered cast to be to you more quickly than others in the industry. This is one way that Intercast differentiates itself and helps to provide a strategic advantage for our customers.

Another important factor in the scope of any project is understanding the industry that your business is in, and how the investment cast needs to be tailored to fit what you do. We were established in 1949, and over the past 60+ years, our team has developed a great understanding of many industries that typically use investment casts, helping understand your needs on a deeper level. This helps us work more closely with you to make recommendations and come up with a strategy that will be most effective for your business.

Some of the industries we have experience in are: Aerospace, Automotive, Flow Control, Food Equipment, Industrial, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, and Security. We understand the different types of metals that are used depending on the industry, using a variety of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys to optimize for your project and make it as efficient as possible.

Ultimately, determining the size and scope of your project begins by considering your needs and goals, and then reaching out to an investment casting manufacturer that you trust, and that has the experience to do the job right. Our team takes the time to understand your project and your goals, and then works with you to design and produce exactly what you need.

We see our customers as our partners for the long haul, and we strive to provide the best in customer service and to create projects that benefit both parties. This is why we have been able to stay in business for so long and create a long track record of providing the highest quality parts with the best in customer service. Contact us today to request a quote for your project and to get the ball rolling.