| Process |
Precision Sand Castings |
Green Sand Castings |
No-Bake Sand Castings |
Plaster Molding |
Permanent Mold |
Die Casting |
"Graphite" Permanent Mold |
Semi-Solid Casting |
Investment (Lost Wax) Castings |
| Common Alloys |
Aluminum, Zinc, Magnesium |
Any Castable Alloy |
Any Castable Alloy |
Aluminum, Zinc, Magnesium |
Aluminum, Zinc, Brass |
Aluminum A380, A413, A360, A383 Zinc #3, #7, #5 ZA8 Magnesium AZ91D |
Aluminum and Zinc |
Aluminum A356 357 355 319 A390 380 |
Any Castable Alloy |
| Typical Size Range |
oz. - 200 lbs. |
No limitation (equipment dependent) |
50 - 200 lbs. |
oz. - 150 lbs. |
oz. - 100 lbs. |
oz. - 30 lbs. |
oz. - 10 lbs. |
oz. - 15 lbs. |
oz. - 20 lbs. |
| Tolerances |
±.020" 0–10", add ±.001"/in. thereafter. Add ±.010" across parting line & cores. |
Irons, Aluminum, Brass ±1/32”/ft; Steels ±1/16”/ft |
±.020" 0–10", add ±.001"/in. thereafter. Add ±.010" across parting line & cores. |
±.010" 0–8", add ±.0017 thereafter. Add ±.005" across parting line. |
±.015"/in. 0–1", add ±.002"/in. thereafter. Add ±.010"–.030" across parting line. |
±.0025"–.010" + ±.015" across parting line. |
±.005" + ±.002" across parting line. |
±.0025"–.010" + ±.015" across parting line. |
±.003"–1/4" ±.004"–1/2" ±.005"–1", add ±.003"/in. |
| Flatness |
Within .020" (geometry dependent) |
.30–.50” linear ft. (geometry dependent) |
Within .030" (geometry dependent) |
Within .010" (geometry dependent) |
Within .015" (geometry dependent) |
.008” up to 3” and .003”/in. after |
.008” up to 3” and .003”/in. after |
.008” up to 3” and .003”/in. after |
Within .015" (geometry dependent) |
| Surface Finish |
125–175 RMS |
500 RMS typical |
120–175 RMS |
63–125 RMS |
150–300 RMS |
32–63 RMS |
25 RMS or better |
32–63 RMS |
63–125 RMS |
| Minimum Draft |
0°–3° |
1°–3° |
½°–3° |
0°–2° |
2°–4° |
½°–3° |
1°–2° |
½°–3° |
None |
| Minimum Wall Section |
Typical: .140"–.187" / Min: .080" |
¼”–½” (size & gating dependent) |
Typical: .187"–.500" / Min: .150" |
Typical: .100"–.187" / Min: .040" |
Typical: .187" |
.030" (Zinc, Mg), .060” (Aluminum) |
.100" |
.060”–.100” |
.060" |
| Typical Quantities |
All |
All |
All |
< 2,000 |
> 500 |
> 2,500 |
500–1,500 |
> 2,500 |
< 1,000 |
| Tooling Price (N.R.E.) |
$500 – $5,000 |
$500 – $25,000 |
$500 – $5,000 |
$3K – $15K |
$3K – $15K |
$5K – $250K |
$1.5K – $5.5K |
$5K – $250K |
$500 – $10K |
| Lead Times |
Samples: 1–6 wks | Prod: 4–8 wks |
Samples: 4–6 wks | Prod: 4–10 wks |
Samples: 2–8 wks | Prod: 6–14 wks |
Samples: 2–4 wks | Prod: 1–5 wks |
Samples: 10–16 wks | Prod: 4–10 wks |
Samples: 12–22 wks | Prod: 2–8 wks |
Samples: 3–6 wks | Prod: 2–6 wks |
Samples: 8–16 wks | Prod: 4–8 wks |
Samples: 8–12 wks | Prod: 10–14 wks |
