Customer Background
- Leading customer in the pump and valve industry with low-weight steel sand casting parts.
- Annual volume of parts was low, making traditional steel sand casting economically unfeasible.
Initial Challenge
- Existing steel sand casting process had high material wastage and extensive machining requirements.
- Low production volumes increased per-unit costs beyond the customer’s target pricing.
- Product surface quality and dimensional accuracy required enhancement to match functional needs.
AMSOLʼs Evaluation and Solution
- Comprehensive review of the customerʼs drawings, production requirements, and cost targets.
- Advised converting the parts from steel sand casting to the Lost Wax Casting (Investment Casting) process.
- Justification for lost wax investment casting :
- o Superior dimensional accuracy and surface finish compared to sand casting.
- o Ability to produce near-net-shape parts reducing post-cast machining.
- o Feasible for small batch sizes with complex geometries.
- o Reduced raw material and machining costs.
Process Optimization
- Redesigned parts to optimize for lost wax casting capabilities and minimize machining.
- Developed wax patterns and ceramic shell molds per customer specifications.
- Employed precise thermal processing to reduce defects and improve metallurgical properties.
- Incorporated best practices in shell mold preparation to ensure consistency.
Benefits Achieved
- Cost Reduction: Approximately 35% cost savings compared to original sand casting and machining processes.
- Improved Product Quality: Enhanced surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and reduced internal casting defects.
- Material Savings: Reduced machining scrap and optimized raw material usage.
- Customer Pricing Satisfaction: Met customerʼs target price while maintaining performance and quality.
- Feasibility for Low Volume Production: Enabled economical production for annual volume through lost wax process adaptability.
Business Impact
- AMSOL strengthened the partnership by delivering a more cost-effective and higher quality casting solution.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction due to consistent quality and competitive pricing.
- Established AMSOL as a proactive partner capable of technical consulting and product optimization.