What is Investment Casting?
Investment casting is capable of producing complex parts with excellent as-cast surface finishes. Learn how it works.
18
Jun
Blog
13
Jun
Defining Space: Outdoor Physical Access Control
Physical access control systems selectively restrict access to space. Concrete or Jersey barriers, water filled barriers, or bollards offer variable access outdoors. Read more about these strategies for adaptive traffic management.
12
Jun
Land Ho! How Nautical Bollards Crept Inland
The word “bollard” used to describe mooring posts for vessels in port—the term “bollard pull” is even a standard measurement of a watercraft’s drawing force. Now, most bollards are inland; the term has come to describe the little traffic guiding or security posts that dot the urban landscape.
11
Jun
Rate it, Don’t Break it—Hardness Testing and the Foundry
What is hardness testing? The Brinell hardness test, Rockwell hardness test, and Leeb rebound hardness test show the properties of castings.
31
May
Bollard and Bike Rack Pricing
Are online distributors and manufacturers using personalized price models?
28
May
ASTM A27 Steel: Choosing the Right Grade for your Casting
Learn how to select the right grade and class of ASTM A27 steel for your casting project. Each grade varies based on chemical composition, and type of heat treating needed to affect changes in mechanical properties. Find out the differences between testing steel for tensile strength vs. hardness.
22
May
Decorative Concrete: From Buildings to Bollards
Concrete is often a structural material, doing supportive work. Only some architectural schools use decorative concrete to make a statement, or to achieve an aesthetic effect. Read more about its artistic use in everything from buildings to bollards.
14
May
Secondary Processing
After a casting is done, cleaned, heat treated and tested, there may be secondary processing needed to finish it for its application. Read about machining, assembling, and finishes that happen in the foundry or off-site to finalize the casting for use.
10
May
Active Design Guidelines for Walkable Cities
Active design guidelines are strategies that designers and city planners can use to enhance public health. Even small changes can make neighborhoods more walkable. Explore what communities can do to enhance walkability!
30
Apr
Heat Treatment in Ferrous Foundries
Heat treating metal influences the microstructures of a metal which give the material all its mechanical properties. Learn what changes are made when annealing, normalizing, quenching, or tempering steel.
26
Apr
Industrial Wheel Maintenance and Selection
Proper maintenance and selection of industrial wheels ensures a long service life. Learn about how load capacity, operating environment, and track conditions influence steel wheel maintenance. Learn about how using bearings or bushings with lubrication is essential for reducing wear.
26
Apr
Do you need bearings or bushings for your wheels?
Bearings and bushings reduce friction between the wheel and axle. Learn about the differences between bearings and bushings and their respective load and speed limitations. Learn how different load types (radial, axial, combined, and moment loads) affect bearing and bushing selection.
23
Apr
Shakeout, Cleaning, and Machining
Learn how castings get “into fine fettle” during the processes of shakeout, cleaning, and machining that occur after a casting is poured and cooled. These detailed steps bring the casting to its final shape.
19
Apr
Bike Racks for Corporate Branding
Branding is not limited to media presence. The values and story of a group are also communicated through the design of a business’ location. Read about what your organization should consider for efficient branding when offering bike racks.
16
Apr
Melting and Pouring Metal
Foundries are glowing metal furnaces and sparking rivers of steel. How do founders mange the scorching heat needed for melting and pouring metal?
12
Apr
Concrete production and applications
Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials. Learn how concrete is produced at a concrete plant or on a job site. Different concrete types include ordinary, high performance, reinforced, precast, lightweight, and pervious concrete. Learn how they are used for concrete applications.
09
Apr
Vol de Bicyclettes: Se Défendre
La moitié de tous les cyclistes actifs se feront voler leurs bicyclettes. Ce délit sous-déclaré et sous-condamné coûte aux cyclistes américains, selon les estimations, un demi-milliard de dollars par année. Voici ce que font certaines organisations et certains cyclistes pour se défendre.
09
Apr
Core-making in the Foundry
How does a foundry create chambers inside the body of a metal casting? Cores are the answer: densely packed sand that stays solid until shakeout. Great design is necessary to float the cores through the center of the mold. Learn more about core-making in the foundry.
05
Apr
Post and Ring Bike Racks
Looking for a small-footprint, stylish outdoor bike rack? Post and ring racks are cyclist recommended because they secure two bicycles with two points of contact against the frame. See how sustainability can be a design feature at your site.
05
Apr
Équilibrer la Sécurité et l’Attrait dans l’Urbanisme
La sécurité du périmètre antiterroriste doit harmoniser la fonctionnalité avec la forme; peu de gens veulent vivre dans un bunker. Les urbanistes essaient de trouver des moyens peu coûteux de protéger les espaces conviviaux. Apprenez-en plus sur la sécurité qui ne nuit pas à l’engagement.