FAQ
How does a project flow?
Call, email, or contact Pentz Cast Solutions.
Why Pentz Castings?
Who uses Pentz Cast Solutions?
How does sand casting work?
How do I get started in casting?
Dual Path?
Hog out prototypes and casting tooling simultaneously.
Fast track engineering, CAD engineering, casting development, CNC hog out prototypes, CNC machine automated sand cast tooling, build automated sand castings and CNC machine castings.
Triple Path?
Hog out billet aluminum fast prototypes creating quick product introduction, build production sand casting tooling CNC machined for automated sand molding production to supply demand then build die-cast tooling for very, high, low cost, production. While making design and engineering improvements at each step to reduce manufacturing costs.
Fast track engineering, CAD, casting, development CNC hog out prototypes, build CNC machined Automated sand cast tooling, automated sand castings then permanent mold or die-casting tooling.
Which casting Process?
How, do I select the right casting process? The right casting process for your project is based in the size, complexity, alloy, physical properties required, quantities required / anticipated, schedule, and if design is fixed or still developing. Pentz Cast Solution engineers will guide you through each phase of your project. Contact us today for a consultation on your project.
Which prototyping process?
How do I select the right Prototype process? Pentz Cast Solution engineers will guide you through each phase of your project. Contact us today for a consultation on your project.
- Precision Automated Green Sand Molding
- Precision Green Sand Molding
- Precision Dry Sand Molding
- Permanent Mold
- Process Comparisons
Precision Green Sand Molding?
CNC machined aluminum tooling, managed sand system PLC sand system sand testing compaction results in .150 rms as cast finish detailed
What is “green sand”?
The term “green sand” refers to the molding sand containing about 3% temper water to activate clay in sand to bind the sand as it is compacted to build a green sand mold. The sand mold holds it highly detailed geometry accurately just long enough to allow poured in aluminum to make a casting with a superior as cast finish of 150 RMS with thin walls to heavy walls simultaneously.
Green sand molding sand is recirculated thousands of times, so it is very efficient and ecologically sound and only requires small amounts of water usually at total of 2% moisture additions to be made back into moldable sand.
What is a core?
A core is made of hard bonded sand in a shape to cast in negative space(s) within a casting.
Call 425-788-6490 (x306) to speak with a Pentz Cast Solutions Sales Engineer or Representative.
What is “Dry Sand molding”?
Sand mixed with chemical binders to build sand molds or cores for making sand castings. Dry sand variations include air-set self-setting chemical bonding or Sodium Silicate and CO2 gas for catalyst set. Dry Sand molds are not 100% reclaimable to re make molds unlike “green sand” which is 100% reclaimable.
What is tooling?
Custom equipment Pentz engineers, designs and creates to manufacture, castings and CNC machined parts, per customer specifications and PO.
Can Pentz use existing customer supplied casting tooling?
We make every effort to utilize existing customer supplied tooling. Customer tooling will be inspected, evaluated, and costs quoted to make modifications as required to build great castings efficiently.
What kind of “as cast” finish can I expect from green sand castings?
Pentz Cast Solutions “as Cast” 150 rms surface finish is extraordinary and unsurpassed in the industry. See Case Study: Precision Automated Sand Cast O Ring Grooves.
Production CNC machined aluminum tooling can easily build 50,000 to 100,00 castings. Only sand touches our CNC machined aluminum tooling, so every casting is built with a new green sand mold utilizing a PLC managed sand system and extensive testing.
How long does tooling last?
Production CNC machined aluminum tooling can easily build 50,000 to 100,00 castings.
Only sand touches our CNC machined aluminum tooling, so every casting is built with a new green sand mold utilizing a PLC managed sand system and extensive testing.
What details can be “as cast” without machining?
Decal recesses, and “O” ring grooves without machining. See Case Study: Precision Automated Sand Cast O Ring Grooves.
Can steel inserts be cast in?
Cast in inserts including complex stainless-steel tube assemblies, large stainless-steel parts, pre-machined steel parts or even die-castings containing machined steel inserts into our aluminum castings.
See Case Study: Precor Excercise Machine.
Can die castings be cast into aluminum parts?
Pentz routinely builds aluminum castings with molded in die cast parts even with cast in steel inserts in the diecasting.
See Case Study: Cast in Diecasting.
Do castings need draft?
Pentz can build castings with little 1-2 degrees to no draft depending on casting geometry and use of cores.
Porosity in castings?
Our castings have extremely low porosity assuring pressure tight castings.
Pentz removes porosity causing hydrogen gas and oxides in aluminum alloys by rotary degassing, flux injecting, and specific gravity tests alloy density before pouring castings to achieve, pressure tight, oil tight, vacuum tight parts, that can be anodized or polished.
Quantities of castings?
We are ready to provide any quantities, 1 to 1 million, required as our precision manual green sand mold or Sinto Automated sand molding process is scalable so if you start with one prototype then low production then thousands or hundreds of thousands utilizing the same tooling.
For larger, higher volume castings Pentz has Permanent mold capabilities usually 5,000+ EAU or more. Pentz Cast Solution expert engineers will guide you through each phase of your project.
Alloys properties and applications?
Pentz Cast Solution expert engineers will guide you through each phase of your project.
