Cast iron metallurgy for improved machinability

Many opportunities for machining cost savings are believed to exist for those who understand the metallurgy of cast iron and are willing to develop a business approach to ensure good machinability. User requirements for castings are increasing simultaneously with casting cost reduction pressures. Many productivity improvements and cost reduction opportunities begin with higher value castings. Users would seem to benefit significantly by being open to paying extra for castings that reduce machining and other manufacturing costs even more. This paper illustrates how metallurgical technology has been applied to solve problems and reduce total net costs through use of castings metallurgically designed for improved machinability. It is the intent of this paper to present a few specific metallurgical facts and examples that illustrate the benefits of moving out of the “ruts of established technology” and ahead of the “conventional wisdom.”