Horizontal centrifugal casting is used to cast parts having an axis of revolution. This article discusses the operations of three types of horizontal casting machine: the flanged shaft machine, the horizontal roller-type machine, and the double-face plate machine. It provides information on expendable and permanent molds used for centrifugal casting. The parameters and operations of the horizontal centrifugal casting process, including pouring and solidification, as well as the applications are described.

This article discusses the three characteristics that are important in evaluating and selecting metals for thread rolling, namely, rollability, flaking, and seaming. It reviews the capabilities and limitations of flat-die rolling, radial-infeed rolling, tangential rolling, through-feed rolling, planetary thread rolling, continuous rolling, and internal thread rolling, as well as the rolling machines and dies used. The article describes the factors affecting die life and provides information on radial die load, seam formation, surface finish, and thread dimensions that are affected by the form of the thread. It explains the reasons for using fluids in thread rolling. The article concludes with a comparison of rolling with cutting and grinding.

Thread rolling is a cold-forming process for producing threads or other helical or annular forms by rolling the impression of hardened steel dies into the surface of a cylindrical or conical blank. Methods that use cylindrical dies are classified as radial infeed, tangential feed, through feed, planetary, and internal. This article focuses on the capabilities, limitations, and machines used for these methods. It describes the three characteristics, such as rollability, flaking, and seaming, used in evaluating and selecting metals for thread rolling. The article explores the factors affecting die life and explains the effect of thread form on processing. It provides information on various fluids used in thread rolling to cool the dies and the work and to improve the finish on the rolled products. The article provides a comparison between thread rolling and cutting, as well as between thread rolling and grinding.

This article provides information on the development of finite element analysis (FEA) and describes the general-purpose applications of FEA software programs in structural and thermal, static and transient, and linear and nonlinear analyses. It discusses special-purpose finite element applications in piping and pressure vessel analysis, impact analysis, and microelectronics. The article describes the steps involved in the design process using the FEA. It concludes with two case histories that involve the use of FEA in failure analysis.

Finite element analysis is a computer-based numerical method for solving engineering problems in bodies of user-defined geometry. This article introduces the important issues of finite elements (especially accuracy and efficiency) in a nonacademic manner. It describes the Rayleigh-Ritz procedure for solving structural problems based on the principle of virtual work. The article discusses continuum elements, such as hexahedra, pentahedra, tetrahedra, quadrilaterals, and triangles, commonly used in three- or two-dimensional domains. It considers structural elements such as beam element, plate element, shell element, and elbow element. The article presents three examples to illustrate the types of problems that can be addressed and the decisions that must be made when using finite element analysis.

This article discusses the general formability considerations of aluminum alloys. To conduct a complete analysis of a formed part, the required mechanical properties, as determined by several standard tests, must be considered. The article describes tension testing and other tests designed to simulate various production forming processes, including cup tests and bend tests, which help in determining these properties. It provides information on the equipment and tools, which are used in the forming of aluminum alloys. The article presents a list of lubricants that are most widely used in the forming. It also analyzes the various forming processes of aluminum alloys. The processes include blanking and piercing, bending, press-brake forming, contour roll forming, deep drawing, spinning, stretch forming, rubber-pad forming, warm forming, superplastic forming, explosive forming, electrohydraulic forming, electromagnetic forming, hydraulic forming, shot peening, and drop hammer forming.

The microstructure that develops during the solidification stage of cast iron largely influences the subsequent solid-state transformations and mechanical properties of the cast components. This article provides a brief introduction of methods that can be used for simulating the solidification microstructure of cast iron. Analytical as well as numerical models describing solidification phenomena at both macroscopic and microscopic scales are presented. The article introduces macroscopic transport equations and presents analytical microscopic models for solidification. These models include the dendrite growth models and the cooperative eutectic growth models. The article provides some solutions using numerical models to simulate the kinetics of microstructure formation in cast iron. It concludes with a discussion on cellular automaton (CA) technique that can handle complex topology changes and reproduce most of the solidification microstructure features observed experimentally.

When complex designs, transient loadings, and nonlinear material behavior must be evaluated, computer-based techniques are used. This is where the finite-element analysis (FEA) is most applicable and provides considerable assistance in design analysis as well as failure analysis. This article provides a general view on the applicability of finite-element modeling in conducting analyses of failed components. It highlights the uses of finite-element modeling in the area of failure analysis and design, with emphasis on structural analysis. The discussion covers the general development and both general- and special-purpose applications of FEA. The special-purpose applications of FEA covered are piping and pressure vessel analysis, impact analysis, and microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems analysis. The article provides case histories that involved the use of FEA in failure analysis.

Filament winding is a process that allows the precise lay-down of continuous reinforcement in predescribed patterns at a high rate of speed. This article discusses the filament winding process and includes a comparison to other compacting and curing processes. The article describes design factors, and techniques to produce aerodynamic surfaces, improve surface smoothness, and avoid slipping and bridging of filament. The article discusses tooling and the equipment used in the filament winding process, namely, mandrel design, winding machines, tensioners, and ovens.

Aluminum and its alloys are among the more formable materials of commonly fabricated metals. This article discusses the formability, bendability, and springback of aluminum and its alloys. It describes the forming limit diagrams that illustrate the biaxial combinations of strain that can occur without splitting. The article reviews various bending methods, such as draw, compression, ram and press, roll, and stretch or tension bending. It describes the process variations of incremental sheet forming (ISF), such as single-point incremental forming, two-point incremental forming, and kinematic incremental sheet forming. The article concludes with a discussion on spinning, warm forming, and superplastic forming.

This article discusses classification of foundry processes based on the molding medium, such as sand molds, ceramic molds, and metallic molds. Sand molds can be briefly classified into two types: bonded sand molds, and unbonded sand molds. Bonded sand molds include green sand molds, dry sand molds, resin-bonded sand molds, and sodium silicate bonded sand. The article describes the casting processes that use these molds, including the no-bake process, cold box process, hot box process, the CO2 process, lost foam casting process and vacuum molding process. The casting processes that use ceramic molds include investment casting, and plaster casting. Metallic molds are used in permanent mold casting, die casting, semisolid casting, and centrifugal casting.

Casting is one of the most economical and efficient methods for producing metal parts. In terms of scale, it is well suited for everything from low-volume, prototype production runs to filling global orders for millions of parts. Casting also affords great flexibility in terms of design, readily accommodating a wide range of shapes, dimensional requirements, and configuration complexities. This article traces the history of metal casting from its beginnings to the current state, creating a timeline marked by discoveries, advancements, and influential events. It also lists some of the major markets where castings are used.

This article focuses on binder-jetting technologies in additive manufacturing (AM) that produce metal artifacts either directly or indirectly. The intent is to focus on the most strategic and widespread uses of the binder jetting technology and review some of the challenges and opportunities for that technology. The discussion includes a historical overview and covers the major steps involved and the advantages of using the binder jetting process. The major steps of the process covered include printing, curing, de-powdering, and sintering.

This article discusses the historical background of composite construction in recreational equipment and sporting goods. It provides information on the applications of composites in baseball bats, tennis rackets, and golf clubs. The applications of composites in bicycling, winter sports, aquatic sports, track, field, and archery equipment are also discussed.

Aggregate molding, or sand casting, is the gravity pouring of liquid metal into a mold that is made of a mixture molded against a permanent pattern. This article summarizes the most important materials in the process of sand casting of cast iron, including different types of molding aggregates, clays, water, and additives in green sand, chemically bonded organic resins, and inorganic binders in self-setting, thermosetting, and gas-triggered systems. It discusses three main types of reclamation systems: wet, dry, and thermal. The article concludes with a description of both nonpermanent and permanent mold processes.

This article describes the main advantages of using grease as a lubricant rather than oil. It discusses the formulation, lubricating mechanism, degradation, and characterization of grease. The article describes the parameters that determine lifetime of grease, including low-temperature limit, low-temperature performance limit, high-temperature performance limit, and high-temperature limit. The article concludes with information on the practical use of grease as a lubricant reservoir.

This article discusses the mechanics, surface preparation and principles of metal forming operations such as drawing, bending (draw bending, compression bending, roll bending, and stretch bending), spinning, and straightening of bars, tubes, wires, rods and structural shapes. The article also discusses the machines and tools, including dies and mandrels, and lubricants used for these metal forming operations.

Tapping is a machining process for producing internal threads. This article provides a discussion on machines and accessories of tapping. It reviews the seven categories of taps, namely, solid, shell, sectional, expansion, inserted-chaser, adjustable, and collapsible taps, as well as their design and functions. It explains the influences of various factors on the selection of tap design features and discusses the principal factors that influence the selection of equipment and procedure for tapping. The article reviews the factors that determine torque demand. It also provides an overview of tap materials and surface treatment and concludes with a discussion on tapping of taper pipe threads.

This article presents an overview of the use of mechanism analysis (kinematics and dynamics) and simulation. It provides indications of the directions in which mechanism simulation is growing and how it is integrated in the evolving computer aided design and computer aided engineering (CAD/CAE) fields. Mechanism simulation is best used as part of a concurrent CAD/CAE approach to design. The article discusses the state, evolution, and direction of application for these techniques in a variety of fields.