Metal Fabrication
CUSTOM METAL FABRICATION
Sourcing Opportunities has been working with specialty manufacturers since 1987 to provide tight tolerance, precision custom components. This has tailored, but not limited us to, temperature sensing, gas/fire/smoke detection, prevention, and suppression.
Outsourced Metal Casting – Die Casting
Die casting is best suited for small to medium size parts with higher volume requirements. It uses 100% recyclable materials in some applications. Cast parts are preferred over plastic because they offer better strength, tolerate higher temperatures, and have a lower impact on the environment.
Advantages
- Minimal Secondary Finishing Operations
- High Production Runs
- More Economical
- Tighter Tolerances
- Thin Walls
- Consistency
Factors to Consider
- Weight (Less Than 30g/1oz)
- Restrictions (24”/600mm)
- High Initial Costs
- Material Limitations
Best Suited Materials
- Copper
- Lead
- Aluminum
- Zinc
- Tin Based Alloys
Investment Casting
Investment casting is best suited for parts that are small, include intricate design, and demand high reliability.
Advantages
- Accuracy
- Consistency
- Tight Tolerances
- Thin Walls
- Finished Appearance
- Complex Shapes
- Variety of Alloys
- Low Material Waste
Factors to Consider
- Dimension Limitations
- Higher Piece Price Due to Additional Manufacturing Processes
- Higher Tooling Costs Because Individual Patterns are Required for Each Casting
Most Commonly Used Alloys
- Carbon
- Tool and Alloy Steel
- Multiple Grades of Stainless Steel
Sand Casting
Sand casting is best suited for parts that have simple designs and are large.
Advantages
- Low-Cost Molds
- Low-Cost Piece Price
- Larger Parts
- Produces Less Waste Since Material Can Be Added to Next Run
Factors to Consider
- Surface Finish
- Limited Wall Thickness
- Decreased Tolerances
- Lower Porosity
Common Materials
- Aluminum Alloys
- Brass Alloys
- Cast Iron
- Cast Steel
Forged Metals
Metal forging is best suited to applications where tensile strength, ductility, impact and fracture toughness, and material fatigue are important. Forged parts are free from internal voids and porosity that may be found in cast parts. The main characteristic of a forged part is its integrity due to optimal grain flow. Other advantages include near-net shape and fewer secondary processes. Forged parts also generate very little scrap material. This metal forging process is advantageous in any applications that involve safety issues, including aerospace, automotive, valves, and fire suppression.
Factors to Consider
- Higher Tooling Costs
- Reduced Tolerances
- Higher Piece Prices on Low Volumes
Hot Forging
- Sizes Range Up to 30kg max for steel
- Max Diameter = 300mm x L 200mm Max
Cold Forging
- Sizes Range Up to 3kg Max for Steel
- Max Diameter = 70mm x L 150mm Max
Deep-Drawn/Rolled Steel
Deep-drawn parts are best suited to parts where the depth of the part is equal to or greater than the radius. It is also an option when seamless parts are required (i.e., housings) or complex axisymmetric parts. Rolled steel is very common in housing applications where the diameter is set, and only the length and tip need to be determined.
Precision Machining
What We Offer
- Bar Stock
- Hex Stock
- Castings
- Metal Forging
What We Do
We use 5-axis CNC machines to achieve the highest tolerances. We eliminate the need to have a secondary company finish your parts. Precision machining is one of the services our network of suppliers provides to supply a completed tight-tolerance product. Sizes range from 5mmx5mmx5mm to 800mmx800mmx800mm, with a 30kg maximum.
Valves
We supply custom valves across industries such as:
- Petrochemical
- Gas
- Power Station
- Paper And Pulp
- Pharmacy
- Food Hygiene
- Brewing
- Chemical
- Auto And Motorcycle
- Utilities
Valve Types
- Gate
- Globe
- Check
- Butterfly
- Knife Gate
- Diagram
- Needle
- Y-Strainer
- Fittings
FINISHES
- Powder Coating
- Painting
- E-Coating
- Black Anodize
- Black Oxide
- Polished
- Buffed
- Flat
- Shiny
- Anodize
- Silk Screen
- Electroplate
- Chromate
- Passivate
- Nickel Plate
- Electroless Nickel Plating
- Chemical Film
- Oxide
- Zinc
- Electroless Nickel
- E-Coat
- Chromate
- Anodize
- Graphite
- Paint
These processes need to be controlled to offer the highest quality parts to market.