Al casting cost

What can I expect a foundry to charge me for an Aluminum casting? It would be about the size of a softball using either lost wax or lost foam.

Thanks

Reply to
Charles P Lamb
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First, a professional foundry will probably not use either method, but that is not so relevant. What is relevant is who makes the pattern. If you do it, the cost is low. If the foundry does it, the cost is much higher and it is dependant on how much time it will take to make it. You can do your own arithmetic. In all cases, prior consultation is necessary between you and the foundry on who will do what. In most cases, the foundry will want to make a sand casting with a conventional cope and drag boxes, this will drive the pattern cost. Steve

Reply to
Steve Lusardi

I might add that, if you make the pattern, then you are responsible for it working correctly and will most likely have to bear the costs of testing, rework, etc.. A lot also depends upon how many of this thing you want to make; one,

10, 100, 1000. Patterns for things that may look simple to you start at 1 or 2 thousand dollars and go up from there. For instance: we have an aluminum wheel cast in quantities of 100 to 200. Pattern cost was $2500 to start and now another $1000 has gone into changes. That's for sand casting. A permanent "metal" mold would have been $10,000. Do you know what material you will need for your application? Add material cost. You part appears to solid from what you said, so there's the cost of 3-5 pounds of material. Aluminum can easily be $2/lb. Will the part have to be heat treated? Add some more cost. Will the foundry actually be able produce to the specs you need? If they can't, add some more for post-foundry machining.

Just pick the place, take a sample, meet with them and tell them what you want to do. Quoting jobs is vital to getting jobs, so they won't mind talking/working with you.

Pete Stanaitis

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Steve Lusardi wrote:

Reply to
spaco

Charlie,

Try Cattail Foundry, Lancaster, PA area. Priced right, good people. Highly recommended, and cost lower than you might imagine.

Flash

(That is assuming that you are within driving distance - - or walking. They areAmish, don't use telephones, electricity.) However,US Postal does deliver there, as does UPS, and all the rest.

Reply to
Flash

That's not too far. Its about a two hour drive from here. Will they do lost wax or lost foam casting?

Reply to
Charles P Lamb

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