Blog Archives

Die Casting vs. Investment Casting vs. Sand Casting

Die Casting vs. Investment Casting vs. Sand Casting

March 24, 2023

Casting is a manufacturing process of pouring molten metal into a mold to create a desired shape. Once the metal solidifies, the mold is removed, and the part is produced. Three similar casting processes are: die casting, investment casting, and sand casting. Selecting the appropriate casting method for your project is as important as selecting…

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Copper Alloys

Copper vs. Brass vs. Bronze – The Difference Between Alloys

December 6, 2022

Copper vs. Brass vs. Bronze At MetalTek, one of the elements we work with is copper.  The two primary copper alloys are brass and bronze. Brass is made of copper combined with zinc and bronze is an alloy made of copper combined with other elements, historically tin. MetalTek specializes in bronze alloys and does not…

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Centrifugal Casting Process

Metal Casting Inspection Methods: What They Tell and What the Limitations Are

October 12, 2022

Metal casting is precise and process orientated. With countless variables potentially affecting the result, casting inspection procedures must be rigorous.  Inspection methods can vary between casting type, and different inspection methods are often used for a single casting.  More than anything else, metal casting inspections provide customers with confidence that they received a quality casting. …

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Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals

September 19, 2022

From skyscrapers to naval propulsion systems, from automotive parts to petrochemical furnace tubes, there is no shortage of real-world applications for metal.  Metals come in a wide range of structures, properties, and applications but are commonly organized into two categories: ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals.  Below we explain the definitions, common types, differences, and popular…

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Metal Bar

Stainless Steel VS Aluminum Castings: When To Use Each

August 18, 2022

Selecting the best metal alloy for your components can be challenging. Two popular choices are aluminum and steel, more specifically stainless steel. Every component and its application are different so there is not a “one size fits all” alloy. However, this article will provide tips for determining which alloy, aluminum or steel, is a better…

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FAQ Question Mark

Take The Metal Casting Quiz: Beginner Level

August 4, 2022

Think you know a lot about metal casting? Take our beginner level casting quiz and find out. Once you finish the quiz, please take our expert level quiz. Oh yeah, no time to “Google” the question because you have limited time to select an answer.

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Sand Casting Pour

Take The Metal Casting Quiz: Expert Level

July 19, 2022

Think you know a lot about metal casting? Take our expert level casting quiz and let’s see. Once you finish the quiz, please take our metallurgy quiz. You have limited time to select an answer so no time to “Google” the question.

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Alloys

Take The Metallurgy Quiz: Beginner Level

July 9, 2022

Think you know a lot about metal? Take our beginner level quiz and find out. Once you finish the quiz, please take our expert level quiz. Oh yeah, no time to “Google” the question because you have limited time to select an answer.

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Ferrous Metal

Take The Metallurgy Quiz: Expert Level

June 24, 2022

Do you think you are an expert in metallurgy? Take our expert level quiz and let’s see. Once you finish the quiz, please take our metal casting quiz. You have limited time to select an answer so no time to “Google” the question.

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Heat Treatment

Heat Treatment for Metals

May 24, 2022

What is Heat Treatment? Heat treatment is a thermal process that accomplishes three primary improvements to the material properties of metal castings: Improving mechanical properties Enhancing corrosion resistance Reducing residual stresses The heat treatment process begins with heating the metal casting to the desired temperature before cooling the metal in a controlled way to achieve…

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