Castle Metals Plate Processing and Services
A. M. Castle was the first to offer a wide range of processing services. Today, few suppliers can match our attention to detail or
provide the bundling services needed to function as a one-stop resource for customers.
H-A Industries is our state-of-the-art bar processing facility, which has thermal treating, bar turning, and centerless grinding
capabilities, supplies unequalled quality and value, to either commercial or customer specific properties. In addition to the special
capabilities of H-A, we offer a comprehensive range of specialty, value-added, processing services for plate, sheet, tubing, and bar
products from many other locations in our North American network. These include; bar cutting, plate burning and sawing, grinding,
milling, turning, thermal treatment, and material testing.
Cutting
Castle’s advanced cutting processes include:
Cutting Processes
- Abrasive Water-Jet
- A cutting method that uses a jet of pressurized water containing abrasive powder for cutting steel and other dense materials.
- Beveling
- Refers to specialized edge angle preparation prior to joining or welding.
- Flame-Cutting
- Oxygen cutting in which the appropriate part of the material to be cut is raised to ignition temperature by
an oxy-fuel gas flame.
- High-Definition Plasma
- A cost-effective method and alternative cutting method to laser and plasma cutting, high definition plasma
cutting process is garnered for its precision and accuracy, excellent edge quality, minimum and consistent bevel
angles, and absence of dross.
- Laser-Cutting
- A cutting process in which a laser-beam heats and severs a work piece; it is optimal for thin gauge material
where high precision is required. Laser cutting is similar to plasma cutting except that the cuts are more intricate,
accurate, and the heat-affected area is smaller.
- Plasma
- Plasma cutting is a process that uses a high velocity jet of ionized gas that is delivered from a constricting
orifice. The high velocity ionized gas, that is, the plasma, conducts electricity from the torch of the plasma cutter
to the work piece. The plasma heats the work piece, melting the material. The high velocity stream of ionized gas
mechanically blows the molten metal away, severing the material. Plasma cutting is ideal for cutting steel, and
non-ferrous material less than 1 inch thick.
- Precision Saw Cutting
- The metalworking process used to cut starting ingot or billet stock to length in preparation for the forging process
and also to trim forged parts to size.
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Thermal Treatment
Castle’s roster of thermal treatment processes include:
Thermal Treatment Processes
- Anneal
- The process of heating and then cooling metal to improve its formability, machinability, and to make its surface more durable.
- Induction Hardening
- A widely used process for the surface hardening of steel, the components are heated by means of an alternating
magnetic field to a temperature within or above the transformation range followed by immediate quenching.
- Stress Relieve
- The process of heating to a suitable temperature, holding long enough to reduce residual stresses and then cooling
slowly enough to minimize the development of new residual stresses.
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Grinding
Castle undertakes the following grinding processes:
Grinding Processes
- Blanchard Grinding
- Blanchard Grinding, technically referred to as Rotary Surface Grinding, quickly removes stock from one side of a
part: typically a part too large to be Double-Disc Ground.
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Additional Services
Castle’s additional processing services include:
Additional Services
- Flattening
- The process in which a series of staggered rolls of small diameter is used to remove bow and waves from sheet. While
passing through the roll, the sheet is bent back and forth slightly and is delivered approximately flat.
- Forming/Drilling/Machining
- Forming:
The process in which a machine press shapes a metal work piece by applying pressure on it.
- Drilling:
The type of machining used when smaller holes are needed and a closer ole diameter tolerance is preferred or required.
However, it is the slowest of the drilling operations and hole drift is typically greater than .001 per inch of length drilled.
- Machining:
The process to remove excess or unwanted stock by the use of machine tools for rough or finish turning, boring, drilling,
or milling.
- Heat Stamping
- A metal stamping process in which the work piece is heated.
- Line Marking
- The process of placing a distinct sign or image upon or within an object or material for identification or other purposes.
- Packaging
- The process in which we provide protective packaging material used to protect products throughout the entire transportation
and distribution environment.
- Shot Blasting
- Cleaning surface of metal by air blast, using metal as a result of solidification shrinkage and the progressive freezing of
metal towards the center.
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