The publications on this page available in Portable Document Format (pdf). To view and print these documents you will need an Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can obtain this software free of charge from Adobe Systems, Inc.

Technical Updates

• Introduction to Investment Casting
  A brief document describing the basics and history of the process. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • Intro_to_IC.pdf (English, 580k)
  
  
  
• Ferrous and Nonferrous Alloys
  Tables listing the most popular alloys and alloy families and their mechanical properties. This eight page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • Alloy_list.pdf (English, 64k)

Information for buyers and designers new to the investment casting process:

• 1B2 How to Request a Quote for Investment Castings
  Simple direct things the buyer needs to supply to get a good quote. This one page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 1B2_Request_a_Quote.pdf (English, 180k)
  
  
  
• 1BD1 What Hitchiner Can do for You
  Summarizes the types of parts Hitchiner makes, our engineering skills, and shows some parts of different kinds. This four page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 1BD1_What_HIMCO_Can_Do.pdf (English, (1.4MB)
  
  
  
• 1D2 Drawing Details for an Investment Casting
  Tells the designer what must be on a drawing for an investment casting. This one page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 1D2_Drawing_Details.pdf (English, (116k)
  
  
  
• 1D3 Selecting a Metal Alloy and Casting Process
  Describes in a general way the things that must be considered in selecting a casting process and alloy. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 1D3_Selecting_a_Process.pdf (English, (44k)
  
  
  
• 1D4 Converting Thin Walled Assemblies to Investment Castings
  Describes the advantages of investment casting in making thin walled metal parts. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 1D4_Conversions.pdf (English, (1.6MB)
  
  
  
• 1D5 Quality Control Exceeds Industry Standards
  Compares Hitchiner quality controls to those established as normal for commercial investment castings. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 1D5_Quality_Control.pdf (English, (600k)

Intermediate buyer and designer materials:

• 2B1 Advantages of Buying from Hitchiner
  Lists the overall capabilities of Hitchiner and the advantages of its unique technology. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2B1_Why_Hitchiner.pdf (English, (524k)
  
  
  
• 2D1 Designing for Investment Castings
  Detailed description about how to design for an investment casting. Includes design suggestions, tolerances, dimensioning, artwork, etc. This eight page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2D1_Designing_for_IC.pdf (English, (751k)
  
  
  
• 2D2 Selecting a Casting Specification
  Describes the main casting specifications which can be used by a customer. Explains why one type of specification should be used over another. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2D2_Casting_Specifications.pdf (English, (432k)
  
  
  
• 2D3 Notch Sensitivity of High Strength Metals
  A description of the mechanical behavior of metals for the more advanced customer. Very important for low safety margin part design. This four page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2D3_Notch_Sensitivity.pdf (English, (160k)
  
  
  
• 2D4 Rusting of Stainless Steel
  Explains how, when and why stainless steels can rust. Explains how Hitchiner controls rust in production. This four page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2D4_Rusting_of_Stainless.pdf (English, (60k)
  
  
  
• 2D5 Hitchiner's CLA Process
  Detailed description of CLA and the advantages of it for making good quality investment castings. This four page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2D5_CLA.pdf (English, (1.1MB)
  
  
  
• 2D6 Hitchiner Expands Rapid Prototyping
  Explains Hitchiner's full across the board service in supplying rapid prototypes to its customers. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 2D6_Rapid_Prototyping.pdf (English, (672k)
  
  
  

Advanced buyer and designer materials:

• 3B1 Customized Service from Hitchiner
  Details opportunities available for the development sophisticated applications. Describes Hitchiner's relationship with Metal Casting Technology, Inc. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 3B1_Customized_Service.pdf (English, (120k)
  
  
  
• 3D1 Unique Design Opportunities Presented by Hitchiner's CV Countergravity Casting Process
  Explains in detail the CV process and how it can be used as a complement to the CLA process in making high quality parts. Gives specific examples of CV applications. This four page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 3D1_CV_Process.pdf (English, (708k)
  
  
  
• 3D3 Reactive Alloy Casting Processes
  Explains CLI, CLV, and CPV processes and why they are all needed for different applications for making alloys which contain reactive elements as well as making titanium alloys for commercial applications. This four page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 3D3_React_Alloy_Processes.pdf (English, (1.2MB)
  
  
  
• 3D4 Liquid Hot Isostatic Pressing
  Describes the current (Year 2000) status of the LHIP process. This two page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • 3D4_LHIP_Process.pdf (English, (272k)
  
  
  

Other Documents:

• Casting Granite into Gold, the History of Hitchiner's First Fifty Years
  This 32 page booklet was designed and printed using spot colors and duotones. It includes photos which bleed off the edge of the sheet and crossover from one page to the next. To fully appreciate this effect, set your reader to view two-up. This publication is a custom "coffee table" size (9.25x12.5 inches). When printing, scale to fit your selected paper. Download:
  • History.pdf (English, 1.5m)
  
  
  
• Turning the Casting World Upside Down: Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc. featured in the July 1998 issue of Modern Casting Magazine
  This 5 page reprint is available courtesy of Modern Casting magazine. This document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • ModCast.pdf (English, 188k)
    
    
  • Also available online in HTML.
    
    
  • View a thumbnail of the July 1998 cover of Modern Casting magazine.
  
  
  
• Quick Facts and General Tolerances
  This two page brochure is designed to be printed front and back on US Legal paper (8.5x14 inches). After printing, fold in half twice. Available in English, French, German and Spanish. Download:
  • QF_Engl.pdf (English, 110k)
    
  • QF_Fren.pdf (French, 110k)
    
  • QF_Ger.pdf (German, 110k)
    
  • QF_Span.pdf (Spanish, 110k)
  
  
  
• The University of Alabama Metal Casting Technology Center Spring 1995 newsletter, which reports on the advantages of countergravity casting. This one page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • MCTC.pdf (English, 16k)
  
  
  
• Map to all Hitchiner US Facilities
  Includes driving directions from Boston's Logan Airport and the Manchester, NH, Airport. Includes area hotel listings. This seven page document is designed to be printed on US letter paper (8.5x11 inches). Download:
  • HIMCOMAP.pdf (English, 449k)

Images

The following photographs or illustrations are available in JPEG format:

• The CLA process
  Hitchiner's original countergravity casting process (illustration).

• The CLV process
  A countergravity process used for vacuum casting highly reactive alloys (illustration).

• Ultra-thin wax pattern
  The wax patterns for this casting are so thin that type can be read through them (photograph).

• SSCLA machine
  Countergravity casting on a rotary Supported Shell CLA casting machine (photograph).

• The CLI process
  The CLI process is used for casting reactive metals. The melt is blanketed by argon (photograph).

• Cut-away BMW M-43 cylinder head
  Hitchiner-produced roller rocker arm assemblies (photograph).

• GM 3800 Series II roller rocker assembly
  Hitchiner produces 40,000 finished rocker arm castings per-day for this program (photograph).

• Assorted jet engine components
  A sampling of parts produced by Hitchiner's Gas Turbine Division using the CLV process (photograph).

• Castings for the GE-Cal50 gattling gun
  These parts, ranging in size from four ounces to over 20 pounds, illustrate the flexibility of the investment casting process (photograph).

• The Callaway Big Bertha X-12 Iron
  This premier golf product is cast in the U.S.A. by Hitchiner's Ferrous Division (photograph).

• The LSVAC Process
  Countergravity techniques have been applied to sand casting with a process called LSVAC. (photograph).

• Resin-bonded sand mold
  Thin wall resin-bonded sand mold for use with LSVAC (photograph).

Video

The following video clips are available in QuickTime format. To view these clips you will need QuickTime installed on your system. Download the latest version of QuickTime from Apple Computer.

• CLA casting sequence.
  This 30 second sequence illustrates the filling of a mold using the CLA process. The narrative highlights the benefits of countergravity casting. (1.9 MB / 35 sec. / 320 x 240 QuickTime movie)
  
  
  
  
• Gravity Pouring vs Countergravity Casting Simulation.
  This 30 second demonstration using water shows the splatter that results when a liquid is poured compared to the controlled flow that results when a liquid is siphoned. (1.3 MB / 30 sec. / 320 x 240 QuickTime movie)
  
  
  
  
• Rapid Prototyping.
  This short sequence shows Hitchiner's rapid protyping machine building a layer of a rocker arm pattern.(160K / Looping / 120 x 160 QuickTime movie)
  
  
  
  
• PSNH Salutes Hitchiner.
  Public Service of New Hampshire salutes Hitchiner in a 30 second television ad first broadcast in June of 1999. (1.6 MB / 30 sec. / 320 x 240 QuickTime movie)
  
  
  

Audio

These sound files areavailable in Unix (.au), Windows (.wav), or Macintosh format. (Macintosh sound file is "Bin-Hexed" to preserve resource fork. Run through Stuffit Expander after download).

• The voice of Hitchiner (retired) (.au file: 85k)
  A great startup or alert sound! Download:
  Loriane.au for UNIX, Loriane.wav for Windows or Loriane.hqx for Macintosh.