The Partnership of Engineered Products and Signicast Successful business partnerships are hard to find. Since 1969, Signicast and Engineered Products have built a principal-agency partnership with an unshakable foundation. Signicast brings quick lead times, outstanding quality, design assistance, and vertical integration to the table. Engineered Products offers a knowledgeable and responsive sales force, complete understanding of the investment casting process, and engineering support. The partnership that Signicast and Engineered Products have built can provide customers with upfront concurrent engineering to lower costs while improving component performance. Located in each other’s backyards, both Signicast and Engineered Products are responsive to new customers and their investment casting issues. Whether you are new to investment castings or not, placing a call to Engineered Products will be the best call you can make for your company. About Signicast Our state-of-the-art investment casting manufacturing complex in Hartford, Wisconsin is the showcase for Continuous Flow Manufacturing. The entire complex - from top to bottom, one end to the other - is designed to facilitate the efficient, unbroken flow of castings. In addition, Signicast is also committed to "Complete to Print" manufacturing capabilities. In other words, in addition to providing world class investment casting services, we also perform additional high quality operations, including machining, heat treatment, assembly, painting, finishing, and packaging, all in-house. This means that an investment casting that typically takes others 12 weeks or longer to do, Signicast does in 5-10 days: PHASE | PROCESS | TRADITIONAL TIME | SIGNICAST TIME | New Product Launch | Tooling | 6-8 weeks | 1-4 weeks | Samples | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 weeks | Customer Approval | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks | 1st Production | 8-10 weeks | 1-2 weeks | TOTAL | 19-26 weeks | 4-10 weeks | Re-Order Production | Order Queue | 28-56 days | 1-14 days | Wax | 4-7 days | 14 hours | Dip | 7-14 days | 29 hours | Dewax | 2-5 days | 5 hours | Cast | 3-5 days | 18 hours | Clean | 3-7 days | 12 hours | Heat Treat | 5-10 days | 20 hours | Finish | 4-5 days | 20 hours | Ship | 1-2 days | 4 hours | TOTAL | 8-16 weeks | 1-4 weeks | Secondary Operations
(incremental to above) | Machine | 14-21 days | 24 hours | Paint/Plate | 7-14 days | 4-120 hours | Assemble | 7-14 days | 12 hours | TOTAL | 4-8 weeks | 3 days |
Continuous Flow Signicast has become the industry's leading investment casting manufacturer by helping our customers increase profits with complete, high-quality components, delivered on time, at a low total cost. We accomplish this through our commitment to advanced Continuous Flow Manufacturing (CFM) processes. Rather than large batches moving from station to station (as in traditional manufacturing), an unbroken stream of individual investment cast components flows continuously through our plant. Orders, even small ones, go from entry to shipping with no interruptions. Signicast's unique proprietary software monitors and controls the investment casting process in-time - 24 hours a day, seven days a week - ensuring our schedules remain 100% on time. Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) Guiding this unparalleled system are Signicast's multiple Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS). Acting as a material handling device as well as a storage system, the ASRS units automatically move investment casting product from one operation to the next. ASRS minimizes Work-In-Progress (W.I.P.), completely eliminates the need for forklifts, and ensures parts are where they need to be, precisely when they need to be there. An electronic tracking system adds flexibility, allowing processes to change in mid-stream when necessary. We like to finish what we start. Literally. In 2001, Signicast opened its Module 5, a full service facility devoted to Complete-to-Print Manufacturing. Complete-to-Print Manufacturing means that we also perform operations not possible with investment casting alone. Our finishing operations usually only add a day to the overall lead time and ensure a high quality finished component. Having us finish your component can save you time and money. Since we manage the entire investment casting and finishing process, you'll enjoy: - No additional scrap rates
- No additional lead times
- No additional freight costs
- No additional packaging and handling fees
- No inventory levels to negotiate
Design Assistance
Among the ways we coordinate our design expertise with your engineering staff is through the use of three-dimensional CAD/CAM data, which accurately communicates detailed design geometry. Signicast utilizes fully integrated CAD to CAM high-end software systems including Unigraphics (UGII), Solidworks, and ProE. With these systems, Signicast is able to build high quality wax injection tooling using CAM-generated cutter paths and CNC machines.
Among the many customer benefits of CAD/CAM tooling are: - Higher accuracy in tool construction
- Reduced project time using customer database
- Higher degree of interpretation using customer database
- More efficiency in building complex tools
Signicast has the expertise to transfer data between software systems via IGES or DXF, allowing communications with systems such as ProE, AUTOCAD, CADKEY, SURFCAM, etc. Several options for file transfer are available. Most common data transfer issues are easily resolved with prior communication. Call ahead for recommended methods of achieving successful data transfer. Solidification Modeling To assure high integrity components with a minimum number of sample trials, Signicast utilizes a modeling software that accurately simulates the solidification of an investment casting. This model is constructed using an STL file, typically created from the customers CAD model. The solidification program allows Signicast engineers to identify possible problem areas of complex components before the tooling build stage. Investment casting design, gating and process parameters can be altered and tested without consuming valuable time typically used up in actual part trials. Signicast strives for product approval with only one sample run. Frequently Asked Questions Q. What kinds of parts are best suited for the investment casting process?
A. Almost any configuration can be investment cast. The key to economical use of the process is to fully utilize its flexibility and incorporate as much added value into the casting as possible. Q. What are the benefits of an investment casting versus other types of casting processes?
A. The design freedom investment casting offers is unlimited. It allows you to combine multiple manufacturing processes into one and offer a net shape product. It also offers excellent dimensional stability, surface finish, and size range. When combining value added to the component, the process provides a shorter lead-time and lower total costs. Q. What sizes of parts can Signicast produce?
A. Signicast pours a wide variety of parts, weighing anywhere from a few ounces to as much as 200 pounds. Q. How long will it take to receive a quote?
A. Our goal is to turn quotes around in five days or less; when required, we can turn quotes around in less than a day. Our estimators will work with you to meet your requirements. Q. What alloys does Signicast pour?
A. Signicast concentrates on pouring the following: - Low alloy and carbon steel such as 8620 and 4140
- 300 and 400 series stainless steel
- 17-4 ph
- Tool Steels
- Nickel-base alloys
- Cobalt base alloys
| 
