Pattern and core box materials

The C.A. Lawton Co. can make patterns and core boxes from various materials. Here are the options we offer. Metal: Typical materials used include aluminum and steel. Advantages are high tolerance and excellent durability. Downsides are long lead times and high costs. Metal patterns are best suited for high production run-parts (EAU 200 castings or more),…

Read More

How to reduce the cost of your casting

A lack of casting knowledge is at the root of nearly every cost driver for large castings. To complicate matters, even if you have general knowledge or experience in casting, every foundry uses different processes. What works to reduce cost in one operation can drive the cost up in another. Even if you have general…

Read More

Reviewing casting design

One basic principle in reviewing a casting design is Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T). This system defines and communicates engineering tolerances through symbolic language on engineering drawings. It explicitly describes the part geometry and allowable variations. Using GD&T helps the customer’s design engineer, the supplier’s manufacturing engineer, and quality inspectors to reach consensus on a…

Read More

Winning the high-stakes game of large casting design

Lawton Large Casting

Large casting design is like a game of high-stakes poker: If you win, you’re a hero to your company and the OEM whose products they’re used on. If you lose, you tend to lose big. Here are some ways to increase your odds of success when playing the large castings game. Because of their size…

Read More

How to avoid common casting design mistakes

Avoid Casting Design Mistakes

As older design engineers retire, a new wave of young engineers are taking their places. What many younger engineers lack is an understanding of casting design – how to design parts so they can be cast with a consistently high level of quality. We recently sat down with Jeff Taylor, a casting engineer at The…

Read More