by Jao Tabuzo Jao Tabuzo

Introduction to Impellers: What You Should Know

What is an Impeller?

An impeller is a rotating component, usually consisting of a series of vanes or blades, designed to impart energy to a fluid. This energy transfer results in either increased fluid velocity, pressure, or both. The fundamental role of an impeller is to convert mechanical energy into hydraulic energy (in pumps) or kinetic energy (in turbines and compressors).

In simpler terms, imagine an impeller as the “heart” of a pump or mixer. Just as the heart pumps blood throughout the body, an impeller moves fluids through a system. Its design and functionality are critical to the overall performance of the equipment it serves. The efficiency of an impeller depends on factors such as its shape, size, rotational speed, and the properties of the fluid being handled. Read more

by Jao Tabuzo Jao Tabuzo

3D Sand Printing vs Investment Casting: A Foundry Mold Comparison

The foundry industry relies on various mold-making techniques to produce metal castings. Two prominent methods are 3D sand printing and investment casting (specifically, the ceramic shell investment casting process). While both achieve the same fundamental goal — creating a mold for molten metal — they differ significantly in their processes, characteristics, and applications. This blog post will delve into a detailed comparison of these two mold-making techniques, examining their respective characteristics, cost considerations, and future trends.

Read more

by Jao Tabuzo Jao Tabuzo

Non-Destructive Testing vs Destructive Testing in Metal Casting

In the Foundry Industry, ensuring the quality and safety of Metal Casting is paramount. Two primary categories of Inspection Techniques are employed to assess Material Integrity: Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and destructive testing. This blog post will delve into the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each method, highlighting their crucial role in Quality Control and Defect Detection.

Read more

by JB Shoaf JB Shoaf

Attention all Metalworkers and those with Manufacturing Experience

Howell Foundry is Hiring!

Howell Foundry is a safety oriented, fast growing manufacturer of high-quality cast steel products that service a multitude of industries including Petro Chemical, Oil and Gas, Paper, and energy production just to name a few. Our products utilize 3D technology to create highly complex components that are produced in more than 40 different alloys.

Read more

by JB Shoaf JB Shoaf

Reshoring and Metalcasting: Why It Matters

A Modern Casting Staff Report
This story appears in the July 2017 issue of Modern Casting

The year 2016 was another good one for reshoring.

According to data on the website of The Reshoring Initiative (www.reshorenow.org), trends in U.S. reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI) continued to increase. In 2016, a combination of reshoring and FDI brought 77,000 jobs to the U.S. economy. There was also a positive adjustment of 13,000 for 2010-2015.

Read more

by JB Shoaf JB Shoaf

Process Energy Benchmarking for the Metalcasting Industry

Click here to see this story as it appears in the June 2017 issue of Modern Casting

In every energy program, we talk about benchmarking. To know how much we could save by optimizing our process, we need to compare our current performance to benchmarks. The problem is how to determine those benchmarks. The prior column discussed difficulties in benchmarking a plant; this column will discuss benchmarking a particular process. Read more

by JB Shoaf JB Shoaf

Helping Customers Switch to Casting

By Shannon Wetzel, Managing Editor
This story appears in the June 2017 issue of Modern Casting

When a part is designed  to be put to market quickly, often the quickest or most familiar manufacturing method is chosen, like fabrication. But eventually, time and volumes might highlight deficiencies in the original manufacturing method of choice. This is a great opportunity for metalcasters, as companies start considering moving to a better optimized manufacturing process. Read more