Casting is the process of molding metals into different shapes and sizes to create metal parts. One of the oldest casting methods is gravity casting. Gravity casting uses gravity to make sure that all the parts of the mold is …
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Aluminum lighting fixtures are at work for you
Aluminum lighting fixtures are at work for you. Whenever your car stops at a red light, chances are one of the commonplace, yet unnoticed, aluminum lighting fixtures has just served well in keeping order in your daily life. Indeed, street traffic light housings are not the only applications of aluminum lighting fixtures because of the many benefits offered by these die cast products.
For some time in the past, the production of light fixtures was a labor-intensive process, requiring the lengthy and laborious process of welding different pieces together. Naturally, this process is also costly and imposed limits on the shapes that could be designed. However, with the advances in die casting technology, aluminum lighting fixtures have been developed. Through die casting turning out products that are already in net shape, mass-production bringing in economies of scale has been made possible. The less-expensive aluminum lighting fixtures could likewise be designed into any desirable shape and powder-coated for a good-looking finish.
Aluminum’s light weight also contributed to shipping cost reduction, making these products an attractive option vis-à-vis their steel counterparts which could be heavier by as much as one-third. While plastic lighting fixtures would be lighter, these would not last as long as the aluminum lighting fixtures. This longevity is brought about by the superb thermal properties of aluminum which likewise enable its applications in various lighting requirements especially when high temperature bulbs are used. Common applications for aluminum lighting fixtures in addition to traffic light housings include those for garage lighting, hanging lights, airport runway lights and video camera lights.
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Enhanced Performance of Cast Aluminum Pistons
Federal-Mogul Corp. reports it has developed a new aluminum automotive piston design that withstands the mechanical and thermal loads produced by heavy-duty engines, making it a more reliable component for diesel engines. This will be important to automotive manufacturers seeking to build vehicles with smaller engines, to achieve lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy, without compromising the vehicles’ power output.
In a diesel engine, combustion takes place in a hollow bowl in the top of the piston. Combustion temperatures may top 750 degrees F (400 degrees C) and pressures may exceed 200 Bar (200 x atmospheric pressure.) Under these combustion conditions, the rim of the piston bowl has an increased failure factor.
Federal-Mogul engineers identified thermal and mechanical failures factors for the piston bowl, and identified free primary silicon particles distributed throughout the aluminum matrix. Aluminum expands eight times more than silicon, so stresses are introduced within the piston every time temperature fluctuates. Also, the repeated mechanical loads could result in fatigue failure from the corners of the silicon particles.
Silicon cannot be eliminated from the aluminum alloy: It delivers low expansion properties and good castability. A previous solution to the problem is fiber-reinforcement, but fiber reinforcements increase manufacturing complexity.
Federal-Mogul’s new DuraBowl design involves pre-machining the cast piston and then re-melting the aluminum-silicon alloy around the rim of the bowl. Rapid cooling follows, which alters the alloy’s microstructure significantly by reducing the size of hardening phases such as silicon particles and intermetallics.
The result is a piston bowl rim which has its first few millimeters significantly strengthened to withstand temperature and pressure, thereby extending engine life four to seven times what may be achieved with a conventional cast piston.
“The strength and efficiency of our solution is that the process is physically simple,” stated Frank Doernenburg, Federal-Mogul director of technology, pistons and pins. “The sophistication is in the control of key parameters, which ensure consistent quality. The result is a technologically advanced, high-performing and very cost-competitive product when compared to both fiber-reinforced and steel pistons.”
Kinetic Die Casting manufactures die casting metal parts creating products like roofing tile molds, lighting parts, and military parts. If you would like more information about Kinetic Die Casting, visit our website:Kinetic Die Casting Company
US Manufacturing Growth better than US Economy
Long-awaited growth is finally poised to return to the U.S. economy, albeit at a far more modest rate than the typical recovery from previous recessions, according to a new report from The Manufacturers Alliance. The group predicts that inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) will decline 2.5% in 2009, before rebounding to 2.4% growth in 2010, and by 3.5% in 2011.
“We are pleased there is growth in the overall economy, and surprisingly strong growth in manufacturing,” said Daniel J. Meckstroth, Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Chief Economist. “Yet by historical standards it is still modest compared to recoveries from past recessions.
“Manufacturing production growth, at 4.6%, will grow faster than the general economy, at 2.4%, in 2010,” he said. “An inventory swing in the goods producing sector is a major reason for the acceleration in manufacturing production. We expect manufacturing growth to be led by high technology products, semiconductors, and computers.”
Manufacturing production growth is expected to decline 11.3% this year before rebounding to 4.6% growth in 2010 and to 6% growth in 2011.
Production in non-high-tech industries is expected to decline by 11.3% in 2009 before increasing by 2.3% in 2010 and by 5.8% in 2011. The computers and electronics products sector will also see a drop-off this year, declining by 9.4%. High-tech manufacturing production, however, is expected to improve markedly, to 15.9% growth in 2010 and by a healthy 17.5% growth in 2011.
The expenditure category for investment in equipment and software is likely to decrease by 17.2% in 2009, before experiencing 9.1% growth in 2010 and 15.2% growth in 2011. Capital equipment spending in high-tech sectors will continue the trend. Expenditures for information processing equipment are expected to fall 6.5% in 2009 before rising by 6.9% in 2010 and by 7.8% in 2011.
The forecast expects industrial equipment expenditures to decline by a severe 22.7% this year. The spending will recover, however. MAPI predicts 3.5% growth in 2010 and a significantly improved 22.6% growth in 2011. The outlook for spending on transportation equipment is for excessively wide swings in either direction. The analysis projects a 49.6% decline in 2009, followed by a 55.2% increase in 2010 and a 46.7% advance in 2011.
Spending on non-residential structures is expected to retrench over the next two years, declining by 18.3% in 2009, and by an additional 16% in 2010 before seeing growth of 1.1% in 2011.
Exports and imports will both experience a substantial downturn in 2009 before recovering. Exports are anticipated to decrease by 10.8% in 2009 before rebounding to 7.6% growth in 2010 and to 9.5% growth in 2011. Imports are expected to decline by 14.5% this year, to increase by 8.3% in 2010, and to further increase by 6.3% in 2011.
The employment outlook, unfortunately, will continue to pose a challenge. MAPI forecasts unemployment to average 9.2% in 2009, 10% in 2010, and 9.1% in 2011.
Included in MAPI’s November 2009 economic outlook is the annual long-term forecast. Average annual GDP growth from 2010-2014 is expected to be 3.1%, including a peak growth annual high of 4% in 2012.
Kinetic Die Casting manufactures products like heatsink die casting, aluminum housings, and lighting fixtures. If you would like more information, please visit our website:Kinetic Die Casting Company
Purpose of Die Cast Aluminum Heatsinks
Purpose of Die Cast Aluminum Heatsinks. Aluminum is the ideal raw material to be used in making heat sinks because this part should be very durable. Aluminum is known to be a more durable metal compared to other metals including steel. At the same time, it is very abundant and easy to acquire which makes it a cheap material as well. Aluminum Heatsinks are used in electronic products and even appliances. Its purpose is to divert the heat produced by the electrical wires from the other more sensitive parts of the product. In other words, it is used as a safety feature to insure that the electrical device or appliance work perfectly and do not overheat.
Aluminum Heatsinks are used in many products all over the world which means that they are needed in large quantities at any given time. To produce them in an efficient and fast manner, the process known as die casting is used.
There are just three simple steps in die casting Aluminum Heatsinks. The first step is to take the aluminum bar and liquefy it by heating the bar. Once the aluminum is turned to liquid, the next step is to inject it to molds or castings so that it will take on its proper shape. When the casting cools, all that is left is to polish it and a few finishing touches.
Die casting can create consistent results in a fast amount of time. At the same time, it is a relatively cheap process which makes it a very popular method in making not just heat sinks, but other aluminum parts as well.
Kinetic Die Casting manufactures die cast parts for their customers. If you would like to know more about what is die casting or if you would like a quote, please visit our website:Kinetic Die Casting Company
USA Manufacturing output fell 0.1% in October
US Industrial production figures for October showed a mixed picture on Nov. 17 as manufacturing output eased after several strong months, Federal Reserve data showed. Output at the nation’s factories, mines and utilities rose 0.1% after an average gain of 0.9% in the prior three months.
Manufacturing output fell 0.1% in the past month, after a jump of 0.8% in September. Factory production had also surged 1.4% in August and 1.2% in July, fueled by rising motor vehicle and parts production and a general pickup in economic activity.
In October, auto production fell 2%, reflecting some of the volatility from the government’s “cash for clunkers” program that spurred buying until the incentives ended in August.
Capacity utilization, a sign of slack in the industrial economy, moved up 0.2 percentage points to 70.7%. This is 10.2 percentage points below its average for 1972 through 2008.
Even with the latest rise, industrial production is down 7.1% from a year ago, reflecting the deep recession that has caused industries to slash output.
“This squares with other data in suggesting that the early quarters of the economic and manufacturing recovery will be constrained by issues related to the sources of demand. Since June, manufacturing output gains have been catalyzed by the normal inventory cycle, in which a leveling of the rapid depletion of stocks requires positive output adjustments, and by a range of fiscal policy programs which provide only a temporary stimulus,” said Cliff Waldman, Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI.
“But going forward, stubbornly high unemployment, historically low capacity utilization, and an uneven global economic recovery will prevent consumer, business, and export demand from producing as strong a recovery as might be expected following such a deep and risky economic and industrial downturn,” he added. “The weakness in the October production report was notably widespread with both business equipment and consumer goods industries showing slippage, the latter even beyond the expected retrenchment of policy-induced auto output gains. Such data suggest a modest manufacturing recovery for 2010, with factory output growth only beginning to accelerate to rates that will begin to absorb the large amount of unused capacity by 2011 and 2012.”
Kinetic Die Casting manufactures custom metal parts to their customer. If you would like more information about Kinetic Die Casting, please visit our website:Kinetic Die Casting Company
