Sand casting and lost foam are two common types of evaporative-pattern casting. Also known as sand molding casting, sand casting is characterized by the use of a sand-based mold, whereas lost-foam casting is characterized by the use of a foam-based … Read More

Welding is a metalworking process involving the use of heat to join two or more metal objects. As heat is applied to the metal objects, the surface of the objects begins to melt. When the molten surface cools, it hardens … Read More

Typically consisting of a flattened, circular- or disc-shaped piece of metal, commonly steel or stainless steel, with a hole in the middle, washers are often used in conjunction with threaded fasteners. Before a threaded fastener like a screw is driven … Read More

A trip through the local hardware store will show a bewildering array of colors in finished metal parts, nuts, bolts, and fasteners. Each and every difference has a reason, so let’s take a few minutes to talk about the common … Read More

Have you heard of galvanized metal? From pipes and fencing to screws and sheet metal, countless metal products are galvanized during production. Unless you’re familiar with this metal finishing process, though, you might be wondering why it’s performed. Galvanization doesn’t … Read More

Machining processes are used in the manufacturing industry to selectively remove material from a workpiece. It’s considered a type of subtractive manufacturing because it creates new objects through the act of material removal. As the machining process removes material from … Read More

When shopping for hinges, you’ll probably come across strap hinges. Based on the name alone, you may assume they are used on straps of rope or cordage, but this isn’t necessarily true. On the contrary, most strap hinges are typically … Read More