How is Steel Made?
According to the World Steel Association, 1869.9 million tons of steel were produced in 2019. This represents a 3.4% increase in output from 2018 and is more than double the output in 1999. The world has an ever growing need for steel. It’s used in construction, industry, and manufacturing. Being
What is Machining?
Making objects out of metal involves many manufacturing processes. One of these is machining, a necessary requirement of mass manufacture in the modern age. Machine tools cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape metal by removing some of it with a cutting or grinding surface. Usually, a machine tool has two
What is a Foundry?
Foundries are responsible for our current standard of living and industrial development, but most of us know next to nothing about them. So what is a foundry? Foundry Definition In simplified terms, a foundry is a factory where castings are produced by melting metal, pouring
Ductile Iron
Ductile iron – also referred to as spheroidal or nodular iron – is actually a group of irons that exhibit high strength, flexibility, durability and elasticity due to their unique microstructure. Cast ductile iron normally contains over 3 percent carbon; it can be bent, twisted or deformed without fracturing.
Steel Grades: Conversion from ASTM Standards
When manufacturing overseas, North American designers might need to navigate differences in spoken language. Engineering specification is also a language, and standard specifications for material and processes are defined differently in each country in the world. To a new designer, steel grades might seem easy, where 316 stainless steel is
Carbon Steel and Mild Steel: The Basics
Over 1.5 billion tons of steel are produced every year to make products as diverse as sewing needles and structural beams for skyscrapers. Carbon steel is a type of steel where the main alloying element is carbon, and the properties depend on the percentage of carbon present. Carbon steel is
Cast Steel Production: Properties and Composition
Cast steel is a ferrous alloy with a maximum carbon content of approximately 0.75%. Steel castings are solid metal objects produced by filling the void within a mold with liquid steel. They are available in many of the same carbon and alloy steels that can be produced as wrought metals.
Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals
Any solid metal that can be melted can be cast. Foundries are the factories that do this casting work, developing expertise with a handful of metals and methods, and designing standard products to maximize value and efficiency in production. Metals and casting methods influence each
Introduction to Forging Methods
What is forging? Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of a metal through hammering, pressing, or rolling. These compressive forces are delivered with a hammer or die. Forging is often categorized according to the temperature at which it is performed—cold, warm, or hot forging. A wide range of
Cleaning Stainless Steel
Stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant—however, stainless steel applications can still remain at risk to surface damage. Oxidation, corrosion, rusting, or staining can occur over the long-term in harsh environments without routine cleaning and maintenance. Repeat mechanical damage also contributes to a faster degradation of the metal. All stainless steels