15 Nov 2021 
This government customer requires secure products, such as this high security lock.
This project is a small, intricate lock.
The customer struggled finding a supplier; the volume was not high enough for die casting, and sheet metal stamping and sand casting could not create the detail required.
They needed a manufacturer who could produce the part and supply it fully assembled.
While this product is relatively small to be considered for the permanent mold process, we found that permanent mold casting and in-house machining and assembly was the best solution for our customer.
The design of this casting includes varying thick sections, which often lead to shrink issues, causing imperfections on the outside of the part. To overcome this challenge, we adapted the feeding system and controlled the solidification process so that the part cooled evenly, eliminating shrinkage issues.
The part went through a CNC machining process that completed all the lock’s details necessary for functionality and assembly.
As a lock, this part has cosmetic requirements. Therefore, we polished the outside and had it coated black.
We typically do not perform assembly for our customers. However, we accommodated the customer’s unique needs by casting the casing and completely assembling the part with circuit boards, servos, and other electronics.
While die casting and sand casting foundries would not touch the project, we stepped up to the plate with nearly 75 years of permanent mold experience.
The customer was appreciative of our flexibility and accommodation to special requests, such as fully assembling the product in-house.
We developed 300-500 of these government locks a month for several years.
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Case Studies