×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Traceability for castings

Traceability for castings

Traceability for castings

(OP)
I was asked by a company what could be done for traceability(date of manufacture, lot number, etc.) in investment castings similar to date code wheels in plastic tooling. What is usually done and what would help in this area?

RE: Traceability for castings

It is possible to provide heat number and manufacturer's monogram/identification code on the casting. The heat number can then be used to trace back the steps of manufacturing. A fairly standard practice adopted by all foundries. on the


If you think education is expensive, try Ignorance.
- Andy McIntyre


_____________________________________
 

RE: Traceability for castings

(OP)
Thanks for the information. Is is done with reusable inserts? It is easy in the plastics industry. Unfortunatley, that's where my experience lies.  

RE: Traceability for castings

Yes, reusable inserts in the molds used for the wax patterns.

RE: Traceability for castings

yes ,like btrueblood indicated,you can have it done on the wax pattern.
 


If you think education is expensive, try Ignorance.
- Andy McIntyre


_____________________________________
 

RE: Traceability for castings

(OP)
Do these people make their own or are they available commercially? That would be quite useful. Thanks in advance.
 

RE: Traceability for castings

Are you referring to the wax patterns or the die molds used for making wax patterns? This is an in house activity.  


If you think education is expensive, try Ignorance.
- Andy McIntyre


_____________________________________
 

RE: Traceability for castings

(OP)
Are they adjustable like plastic mold inserts? For wax molds, understanding it correctly, they would be in the patterns. For actual die casting for solid molds, they would go in the mold.

RE: Traceability for castings

Part-numbers are typically in the tooling.  An old-fashion label-maker can be used to put serial numbers on the wax-pattern.  The plastic will be burned out in the pre-heat oven.  Since the foundry might not know the heat number when the mold is made, the heat number is usually stamped.  All this works for in-house traceability, but you may want to grind off the numbers and replace them with something more unambiguously legible (ink stamping, etching, engraving, vibropeening, etc.), before the castings ship.   

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources