Receive accurate cost and time estimates for your custom casting project
Reliance Foundry can produce high-quality custom metal castings to your specifications.
We work with you to determine product goals, then recommend the most economical materials and production methods to meet them.
Qualifying the Foundry
The first step in qualifying Reliance Foundry for your project is determining if it fits within our areas of expertise. Consider the following factors:
- Metal Type Reliance Foundry works with a wide range of metal alloys, including cast steel, stainless steel, mild steel, ductile iron, and aluminum.
- Production Volume A custom casting will require production design and new tooling. Does this job require enough units to legitimize the investment?
- Foundry Expertise Reliance Foundry has been building up its casting expertise since 1925. Our network of carefully selected international production facilities is capable of producing parts by sand, investment, and die casting, as well as forging and fabrication.
We are also capable of further processing parts through heat treatment, machining, assembly, and powder coating. - Production Time Production runs for new parts can run up to 24 weeks. Subsequent production runs require significantly less time, often under 14 weeks. Small shipment demands can be accommodated in shorter periods.
Requesting a Quote
Once you have ascertained that Reliance Foundry has the right capabilities to handle your project, the next step is to gather the information you need to request a quote.
Custom metal casting is a complex process – success depends on clear communication and detail from the early stages of design through to project completion.
The following information should be considered in your Request for Quote.
Design
Please provide drawings and specifications of the parts you are requesting, including (but not limited to):
- Dimensions and geometry
- Acceptable dimensional tolerances
- Stress / load requirements
- Machining requirements
- Non-destructive test requirements
Drawing files should be sent to [email protected].
Material
Material information can list either a specific metal grade or the prefferred material and desired properties. Material specifications are normally communicated using an internationally recognized material standard like ASTM.
Casting costs are dramatically affected by the material selected due to the inherent cost of the metal/alloy and its castability.
Actual or Estimated Weight
Weight is used to calculate costs for sourcing materials, processing and shipping. Actual weight is preferred, as inaccurate estimates may lead to discrepancies between estimated and actual costs.
Pattern
If patterns and core boxes are available, your request for a quote should indicate the type, condition and set up of the equipment. An existing pattern in good condition might reduce the cost of your casting run.
Assuming in most cases that existing patterns are not available, pattern equipment design will constitute a major cost. Paying more for sophisticated pattern equipment results in lower casting cost and higher casting quality. Avoid misunderstanding by communicating your needs clearly in the planning stage.
Quantity
Include the anticipated volume, both present and future. Quantity has a large influence over production method, pattern development, and overall cost. Different pattern materials are more suitable for longer-term, high-quantity runs.
The efficiency of production improves with larger order volumes.
Acceptance Criteria
Cast surface finish (smoothness) requirements, material property test criteria, and casting soundness are all critical considerations for a quote.
The soundness of metal castings refers to the level of freedom from impurities and discontinuities such as inclusions, macro porosity, and shrinkage. All castings have some degree of defect – the acceptance criteria outline what type and degree of defects are acceptable.
Acceptance criteria and testing methods should be agreed on in advance of production.The more testing and tighter the acceptance criteria, the more expensive the product will be (without necessarily increasing quality or serviceability). The rigour of testing and acceptance criteria should be based on the design and service requirements.
Inspection Requirements
Industry standard specifications like ASTM provide the tools necessary to establish inspection criteria. Most mechanical testing is carried out on representative test bars.
Additional, non-standard inspection requirements increase the cost of casting.
Production & Delivery Schedules
Lead-time is the expected interval between the contract agreement and production completion. The delivery time is the time required to ship and deliver the completed castings.
Notable dates and deadlines should be communicated with the RFQ. Custom casting projects on a tight deadline can be expedited, but quotes for such projects will need to consider the additional cost of using multiple patterns and labor overtime.
Secondary Processing
An understanding of the subsequent processing and final use of the castings should be communicated; Reliance Foundry can complete secondary processing operations that increase the direct cost of the casting, but will reduce the total cost of the finished product by avoiding additional processing by other sources.
Reliance Foundry offers:
- Heat treating
- Machining
- Assembly
- Coating
Unless otherwise specified, castings are furnished with un-machined as-cast surfaces.
Packaging
We prepare and package all products to protect them during transport and storage. Specific requests such as layered packaging, min/max package sizes, and special loading/unloading demands will add costs to the shipping process and must be communicated in advance.
A complete understanding of these factors and how they influence the function and cost of your project is best developed by open communication with your foundry contact. Our casting experts will work with you to outline clear product goals, and help you meet them in the most economical way.
Is your cast metal project ready to go? Request a quote here!