Graphite Permanent Molds
Graphite Permanent Mold Technology (GPMT) began in the late 1970’s and our professional team has been working with this technology since 1984. With this expertise, Forest City Castings can provide you with a raw casting from a 3D electronic file in an industry leading time frame.
The graphite system eliminates the expense of metal tooling. Tooling is computer generated and fed directly to our high speed CNC Mills, where the graphite tool is cut. The speed in which graphite can be machined allows for rapid engineering changes, often in hours or days, as opposed to weeks or months like some alternative methods. These features allow the graphite system to exceed the potential of sand casting and to produce parts that rival those produced in a die-casting mold for only a fraction of the tooling price.
Graphite is extremely stable: it will not warp, twist or check when molten metal is introduced. Parts can be cast with higher accuracy than sand or iron processes. The Graphite Process produces castings that near to the American Diecast tolerances and provide a surface finish better than 125 RMS. Graphite can be stored indefinitely without changing shape, rusting, oxidizing or deteriorating in any way. This process will deliver high tolerances, cost effectiveness and repeatability.
Traditional methods for producing high tolerance cast parts can require complicated casting processes for investment castings, or expensive tooling and equipment for die cast parts. We have converted hundreds of complex parts from conventional manufacturing methods to GPM aluminum/zinc castings. Our total in-house, turnkey capability can help you by providing assistance for concept, design, affordable tooling, precision castings and any secondary machining operations. Aluminum or zinc alloy castings produced with graphite permanent molds offer unique opportunities for strength, precision and excellent part finishes. Tolerances of +/- .005” as cast eliminates many secondary machining operations. Tooling cost savings are as high as 75%. The graphite process also produces text as shallow as 0.010 inches.
All production molds purchased from Forest City Castings are guaranteed for the life of the project.
This makes Forest City Castings an invaluable choice to get your project to market quickly! We can provide you with production capabilities to approximately 25000 units per year.
Contact our specialists and find out how you can quickly and inexpensively benefit from graphite permanent mold castings.