Class 40 Cast Iron, large "useful generic shapes" off the shelf?

[ps15]

Hello. I'm looking around to see if there are any foundry's or cast iron suppliers who sell "generic" castings. I don't know what you would call it. I'm looking for class 40 or equivalent castings as large rectangular or square tubes 16" up to 20" or larger. Looking for off the shelf castings in "structural shapes" that I could machine to meet my needs. Stuff that would be suitable as a base or platform for building machine tools 2000 lbs or lighter.
When I search for stuff I get only results for ornamental "cast iron" and Dura-Bar and V-Bar don't make rectangular tube. Stock plate sizes are also not suitably large enough.

Thank you for reading

 

[sfriedberg]

Used to be you could get cast iron square/rectangular tube, T-bar, U-bar, L-bar and so on from jig/fixture/clamping vendors. E.g., Carr-Lane, Teco, and the like. It was always priced waaaay higher than the bulk material, and I suspect it's both harder to find and more expensive today. WDS Components seems to have quite a variety of shapes, but the prices will make your glands pucker up. Example: 90/45/45 hollow triangle section, 4" square faces, a bit over 1/2" wall, 1' long, $583. 4" hollow square, 5/8" wall, 1' long, $324. Maybe someone else knows a cheaper source.

 

[ps15]

Thanks for replying. WDS is basically exactly what I'm looking for. Cast in the USA is preferable.

 

[Milland]

Look for a foundry that will work with you on casting over foam cores. Mock up a shape you want from the appropriate insulation foam like polystyrene, glue with something suitable (like Elmers?), then just have the sand rammed around it with a sprue and vents added.

Why, it's just as easy as typing about it!

 

[ps15]

I will look into that as well. Thanks

 

[Milland]

I will look into that as well. Thanks

Here's a "home brew" video on the process, just for reference.

 

[Bill D]

How about valve bodies or large pump to motor mounts. I have something like below in cast iron I will turn into an angle plate, some day.
Bill D

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