Thinking about manufacturing with metal instead of plastic? Here are 5 great reasons why metal might be a better choice for you:

• You need strength. Metal is a stronger material than plastic.
  
• You need accuracy. Metal can stand up to warping more than plastic. For example, metal sheave gauges last much longer than plastic ones.
  
• You need heat and UV resistance. Will your product need to withstand high temperatures without melting or warping? Metal may be your best option.
  
• You need your product to look more expensive. Metal simply looks more pricey than plastic. Customers perceive it as better quality and durability.
  
• You need good conductivity. Metal is a natural conductor. 
  
  

If these factors matter for your production, consider metal over plastic.

Lifters: do you seek easy-to-use reference guides on the following?

• Inspection criteria for slings and hardware
  
• Rigging terminology
  
• Guidelines for developing a sound rigging plan
• Capacity charts
  
• Sling loading
• Working with center of gravity
  
  

The Crosby Group offers their popular printed reference guides - with more than half a million in circulation - as an app. Called "Pocket Lift Guide Plus," this $3.99 app lets you search by keyword and view in both portrait and landscape orientations.

When we produce metal stampings, we often use steel. If you need your metal stampings to look professional, we can plate them for you:

• Black oxide: Creates a smooth, black finish.
  
• Anodizing: Allows for dyeing to create a colored finish. 
  
• Metal finishing: Allows for a cadmium, chrome, copper, nickel, or zinc finish.
  

Plating has the following benefits:

• Looks professional.
  
• Does not peel, crack, or rub off.
  
• Protects metal from such corrosion as rusting.
  
• Reduces friction and wear.
  
• Resistant to chemicals.
  
• Prevents dirt and dust buildup.

Learning how metal manufacturing works? Understand these 11 simple terms:

Assembly
Component or end item comprising of a number of parts or subassemblies put together to perform a specific function and capable of disassembly without destruction. 

Blanking
Mechanical process of cutting, punching, or shearing of a piece of metal into a desired shape.

Brazing
Method of joining pieces of metal by heating them with a flame and using a non-ferrous (commonly brass) filler having a melting point below that of the metals being joined. It is similar to soldering but requires much higher temperature, up to 900°C (1650°F).

Extruding
Method in which a softened blank of a metal material is forced through a shaped metal piece or die to produce a continuous ribbon of the formed product.

Finishing
Treating a surface with machining or polishing. Finish includes brightness, color (hue), and texture (smoothness).

Heat treating
Heating metal to a certain temperature and then cooling in a particular manner to alter its internal structure for obtaining desired degree of physical and mechanical properties such as brittleness, hardness, and softness.

Plating
Process in which metal is deposited on a metallic surface.

Rust proofing
Coating with a substance that prevents rusting.

Stamping
Forming metal coils or strips into shapes (blanks, embosses, and bends, for example) using a press (a single operation or a series of stages).

Swaging
Altering the dimensions of an item using dies into which the item is forced.

Welding
Joining together (metal pieces or parts) by heating the surfaces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc, or other means, and uniting them by pressing or hammering, for example.

Source: BusinessDictionary.com

EASTEC is the New England manufacturing expo keeping manufacturers competitive, held May 12-14, 2015 in West Springfield. The 3-day expo promises a chance "to connect with resources that can solve your company’s most pressing problems, improve productivity, and increase profits." If that's not reason to check it out, here are 4 other smart reasons why we'll be there, and you should too. We'll get to:

1. Hear about how manufacturers use technology to increase efficiency.
   
2. Learn about what we can automate to cut costs and pass savings onto our customers.
   
3. See how to continuously improve through LEAN and quick change. 
   
4. Meet other manufacturers to share best practices.
   
   

If you want to learn more about working smarter instead of harder, join us.

Are you ready to go to mass production with your metal components but don't know where to start? This beginner's guide to metal manufacturing explains types of metal manufacturing and each type's metal options, run sizes, and pros and cons.

Like us for blog updates:

SIMPLE: Using Metal Coils or Strips
Stamping: Forming metal coils or strips into shapes (blanks, embosses, and bends, for example) using a press (a single operation or a series of stages)
Metals used:

• Aluminum
  
• Electrolytic steel
  
• Stainless steel
  

For large runs (10,000+ parts)
Pros: Rapid production time (seconds) and most cost-effective part pricing
Cons: Tooling generally costs from $10,000 to $50,000, and tooling changes are limited.

Laser Cutting: Cutting and etching metal using a laser, usually through optics and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) for material or laser beam control. The process leaves a high-quality surface finish and permanently etched parts.
Metals used:

• Aluminum
  
• Sheet steel
  
• Stainless steel
  

For small runs (less than 10,000 parts)
Pros: No tooling needed
Cons: Slower process with longer turnaround time and higher prices

COMPLEX: Using Bar Stock or Melted Metal
Die Casting: Putting liquid metal into a mold under high pressure, commonly used for the production of complex geometries.
Metals used:

• Aluminum
  
• Copper
  
• Lead
  
• Magnesium
  
• Tin
  
• Zinc
  

For large runs (10,000 parts)
Pros: Rapid production time (seconds) and cost-effective part pricing
Cons: Tooling generally costs from $10,000 to $50,000, and tooling changes are limited.

Machining: Drilling and threading bar stock, commonly used in production of nuts.
Metals used:

• Aluminum
  
• Brass
  
• Stainless steel
  

For large runs (10,000+ parts)
Pros: Little or no tooling needed
Cons: Slower process with longer turnaround time and higher prices

Want to know more? Contact Curtis: 508-845-6501 x306 or sales@donahueindustries.com.