Casting and CNC Machining

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Choosing the right manufacturing technology starts with considering part geometry. For example, some designs require the removal of large amounts of material, which is time-consuming and wasteful. Such designs are often ideal for casting – for example, hollow parts with thin walls and large cavities. Complex geometries are also ideal for casting as they take a long time to machine.

Internal cavities are often ideal for casting, as forming them using CNC machining can be complex. This is especially true for sealed cavities that require assembly or metal joining processes in addition to CNC machining. Casting, by contrast, allows you to simplify the design of a part or assembly. Instead of machining many small parts and assembling them, you can cast the entire part and eliminate the assembly step.

However, certain features are more difficult to implement with casting. Undercuts or internal features are more difficult and require complex molds with cores and inserts. Sharp edges or corners are also not ideal for casting, and all features of cast parts require draft angles. Large or oddly shaped parts with thick walls are also better suited for CNC machining, as these geometries are difficult to fill and cool uniformly during casting.