Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
When a box is listed as "cast type" is it always cast "IRON"? Thanks.
CAST TYPE BOXES
- Thread starter Alwayslearningelec
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kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
I don't think so. The term "cast" has to do with how it was made, not what it is made of or how it is listed.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
Yeah I was just thinking.... cast means no seams so to speak, right? Thanks.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
To best of my knowledge cast means poured into a mold and left to cool or set. End result is one piece. Can be any material that will pour and then set somehow. To specify that it is iron it is called "cast iron"
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
Cast aluminum is quite common and so is die cast zinc.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
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- NJ
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- Estimator
Thanks........ question answered.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
You have never been into a die cast foundry, have you?
The metal is not poured, it is injected, or 'shot' into a die. The temperature of the die is kept constant using oil heaters and water coolers. The shot takes less than half a second and about 3 seconds later the die opens and the part it taken out. The part is cooled and inspected, placed on a conveyor or rollers and then the process is repeated. 1000 shots in an 8 hour shift is not uncommon.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
Perhaps by definition... not common usage. In trade jargon, plastic and other non-metal parts are referred to as molded, manufactured by the process of injection molding. One usage example is the molded-case circuit breaker.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
No not been in one. Not much around here where I could see that either. I was still on the right track with the fact that is is cast in a mold vs being rolled and formed, or other methods. I do know of a place that makes cast aluminum parts, but not sure whether molds are injected or poured. I would not be suprised either way with this place - as they have a lot of old fashioned methods of doing things IMO. They do have a machine shop that I have had do work for me with either fabricating something new or repairing something. They do good work. Still have a room full of machines that looks the same as it probably did in 1960 with the exception of a couple of computer aided machines. I will not even get into the electrical system that is visible just in areas where I have been.
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