Cast Parts: Types, Materials, and OEM Casting Capabilities

Cast Parts: Types, Materials, and OEM Casting Capabilities

SHANGHAI NTC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (NTC) is a precision casting industry and trade company based in Shanghai, China, combining product development, design, mold manufacturing, production, processing and assembly of custom cast parts. Founded in 2022, the company operates a 2,000-square-meter factory with 20 employees and an annual output of 1,500,000 units. About 85% of its products are exported to Europe, America and Asia.

What Are Cast Parts?

Cast parts are metal components produced by pouring or injecting molten metal into a mold, then machining and finishing them to meet approved drawings. NTC manufactures cast parts using silica-sol investment casting, aluminum alloy die casting, zinc alloy die casting, sand casting and other suitable precision casting processes selected according to material, part structure and production requirements.

Why Precision Cast Parts Are Used Across Industries

Precision cast parts provide structural, connecting, sealing, supporting, transmission and fluid-control functions in mechanical equipment. NTC components are used in auto parts, fluid chemicals, hardware for ship equipment, food and medical machinery, building hardware accessories, valves and pipes, fire-fighting equipment, sports equipment, instruments and meters, aerospace and petroleum equipment. NTC production series also include golf heads, vacuum parts, valve accessories, kitchen equipment accessories, dishwashing equipment accessories, spinning machine accessories, door accessories and scooter parts.

NTC Custom Cast Parts Capabilities

An OEM cast parts project at NTC can start from a customer-approved 2D drawing, 3D model or physical sample. Development and design are supported by five engineers. The company supports prototype development, sample verification, trial orders, small-batch production and stable volume production across most product series. In-house manufacturing includes mold manufacturing, high-quality silica-sol investment casting, CNC processing, heat treatment, surface treatment, assembly and inspection.

Material and Finishing Options for Cast Parts

Material selection determines mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and cost. NTC supports carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy and copper alloy castings. Common stainless options include 201, 303, 304, 316, 316L, 1.4581, SCS14 and SCS16. Common carbon and alloy grades include 1020, 1025, 1030, 1040, 1045, 1050, WCB, 4140, 4150, 4340, 8620 and 42CrMo.

• Carbon steel: 1020, 1025 (WCB), 1030, 1040, 1045 and 1050
• Alloy steel: 4140, 4150, 4340, 8620, GS-25CrMo4 and 42CrMo
• Stainless steel: 201, 303, 304, 316, 316L, 17-4PH, 410, 420 and 440C
• Aluminum alloy: ADC12 and A380 when specified
• Zinc alloy: Zamak 3 and Zamak 5 when specified
• Copper alloys: brass and bronze

Surface treatments available at NTC include shot blasting, sand blasting, grinding, polishing, satin polishing, mirror polishing, pickling, passivation, black oxide, zinc coating, nickel plating, chrome plating, tin plating, silver plating, anodizing, painting and powder coating, depending on product requirements.

Step-by-Step OEM Cast Parts Process

NTC's cast parts manufacturing flow covers product development, design, mold manufacturing, production, processing and assembly. A typical build-to-print project includes the following steps:

1. Drawing and sample review - The part is reviewed from 2D drawings, 3D models or physical samples.
2. Process selection - Silica-sol investment casting, die casting or another suitable process is selected according to material and structure.
3. Mold manufacturing - NTC manufactures tooling and molds for custom parts.
4. Casting production - Parts are cast using the selected precision casting process.
5. CNC machining - Bores, threads, sealing surfaces, mounting holes and other critical features are machined with CNC turning, milling, drilling, boring, reaming or grinding.
6. Heat treatment and surface finishing - Annealing, normalizing, quenching, carburizing or solution treatment, followed by shot blasting, polishing, passivation, plating, painting or other finishing, can be applied when required.
7. Inspection - Material composition, critical dimensions, hole positions, sealing surfaces, surface quality and appearance are inspected before shipment; pressure or leak tests are arranged when specified.

Cast Parts by Industry and Application

The table below summarizes NTC cast parts categories, material options and example products. All examples are custom-manufactured according to customer-approved drawings, 3D models or physical samples.

Industry	Cast part examples	Casting process	Material options	Example NTC product
Automotive and motorcycle	Drivetrain castings, suspension brackets, engine mount housings, footrest brackets	Investment casting or die casting	Carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy	Precision Cast Motorcycle Engine Mount Housing (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1004)
Power tools	Gearbox housings, levers, brackets	Aluminum/zinc alloy die casting or investment casting	Aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, carbon steel, stainless steel	Precision Die Cast Power Tool Gearbox Housing (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1005)
Marine hardware	Cleats, hinges, deck fittings	Silica-sol investment casting	Stainless steel 201, 304, 316, 316L	Precision Investment Cast Stainless Steel Marine Cleat (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1007)
Architecture and daily hardware	Door handles, hinges, brackets, lock and door control fittings	Silica-sol investment casting	Stainless steel, carbon steel	Precision Investment Cast Stainless Steel Architectural Door Handle (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1011)
Food machinery	Mixing impellers, agitator blades, brackets and fittings	Silica-sol investment casting	Stainless steel 201, 303, 304, 316, 316L, 1.4581, SCS14, SCS16	Precision Cast Stainless Steel Food-Processing Impeller (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1017)
Tableware and hospitality	Handles, connectors, mounting supports	Silica-sol investment casting	Stainless steel	Precision Investment Cast Stainless Steel Tableware Handle (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1019)
Sports equipment	Joint connectors, golf club heads	Silica-sol investment casting	Carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel	Sports Equipment Joint Connector Casting (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1022)
Textile machinery	Yarn guides, guide blocks, holders, drive housings, bearing supports	Investment casting or die casting	Carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy	Precision Investment Cast Textile Machinery Guides and Holders (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1023)
Fluid equipment	Valve bodies, pipe fittings, flanges, pump impellers, flowmeter bodies	Silica-sol investment casting	Stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper alloy, carbon steel	Stainless Steel Investment Cast Pipe Fittings and Flanges (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1010)
Construction and furniture	Anchors, structural connectors, furniture hinges, mounting brackets	Investment casting	Carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, zinc alloy, brass	Precision Investment Cast Construction Anchors and Mounting Brackets (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1025)
Engineering machinery	Hydraulic valve bodies, control valve housings, bearing housings, pump housings	Silica-sol investment casting or sand casting	Carbon steel, alloy steel, ductile iron, stainless steel	Engineering Machinery Hydraulic Valve Body Casting (OEM / Custom Drawing No. 1039)

Typical Precision Casting Parameters

For applicable investment-cast parts, NTC works to the following reference parameters:

• Part weight: 2 g–550 g for most applicable precision-cast components
• Casting tolerance grade: T4–CT7 for applicable investment-cast parts
• Surface roughness: Ra 1.6–Ra 6.3, depending on casting, machining and finishing requirements
• Minimum wall thickness: 2 mm standard; 1 mm available for limited local areas subject to process review
• Fillets: minimum outer radius ≥0.3 mm; minimum internal fillet ≥0.5 mm
• Blind-hole capability: maximum blind-hole depth up to 30 mm for a hole diameter of 10 mm

Larger components, heavier parts and die-cast tolerances are reviewed according to product structure and approved drawing requirements.

Quality Control and Inspection

NTC operates an advanced quality control system under ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2015, with high-quality silica-sol investment casting and CNC processing equipment. Precision detection equipment includes CMM, spectrum analyzer, Brinell hardness tester and projector.

Depending on the part, inspection covers material composition, dimensions, port positions, thread accuracy, concentricity, flatness, sealing surfaces and appearance. Pressure testing, air-tightness testing, hydraulic leak testing and assembly-fit inspection are available when specified.

NTC has stable overseas customers in Europe and the United States, Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea. The company's main export markets are Europe, America and Asia.

Design Considerations and Limitations

Precision investment casting is well suited to complex small- and medium-sized components. NTC's published reference limits help buyers evaluate part designs: the standard minimum wall thickness is 2 mm, 1 mm is allowed only in limited local areas, and most applicable precision-cast parts fall in the 2 g–550 g weight range. Blind holes deeper than 30 mm at a 10 mm diameter require process review. These are design inputs, not product restrictions; alternative casting processes are selected case by case.

Cast Parts FAQ

What are cast parts?

Cast parts are metal components made by pouring or injecting molten metal into a mold, then machining and finishing them to drawing requirements. NTC produces cast parts using silica-sol investment casting, die casting and other precision casting processes.

What materials and quality standards are available?

NTC can produce cast parts in carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, brass and bronze. Specific grades include 1020, 1045, WCB, 4140, 42CrMo, 304, 316 and 316L. The factory operates an advanced quality control system under ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2015 and uses CMM, spectrum analyzer, Brinell hardness tester and projector for inspection.

Which industries can use NTC cast parts?

Auto parts, motorcycle and scooter components, power tool components, stainless steel marine hardware, architectural and daily hardware, copper alloy castings, fluid equipment, food machinery, tableware hardware, sports facility parts, construction hardware, furniture hardware, industrial sewing machine parts, door control fittings, lock hardware, flowmeter accessories, engineering machinery parts and stainless steel pipe and valve castings.

Does NTC support prototypes and small batch orders?

Yes. NTC supports prototype development, sample verification, trial orders, small-batch production and stable volume production. Exact order quantities should be confirmed for each part geometry and material.

How do I request a sample or quotation?

Contact GM Stanley Yang at SHANGHAI NTC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. by email at Stanley770826@ntcmachine.com, by WhatsApp at +86 186 2180 6400, or through the company websites www.shntcmachinery.com and www.shntcmachine.com. The company address is No. 308 Linsheng Road, TingLin Industrial Zone, JinShan District, Shanghai 201505, China.

What is the lead time for custom cast parts?

Lead time depends on part design, material grade, casting process, tooling status, order quantity, machining and surface finishing requirements. Since each part is built to customer drawings or samples, lead time should be confirmed with the factory for the specific project.

Conclusion: Choosing an OEM Cast Parts Partner

For buyers researching cast parts, the key sourcing criteria are process capability, material flexibility, machining and inspection depth, and the ability to move from prototype to volume production. SHANGHAI NTC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. covers these capabilities through integrated product development, mold manufacturing, silica-sol investment casting, CNC machining, heat treatment, surface finishing and inspection services.