The Eagle Group Blog previously wrote about our handheld laser scanner, capable of processing 1-2 million individual location points to accurately measure any surface. We recently built on that capability and purchased a Keyence VL-550 3D scanner CMM. The intuitive user interface, proprietary software and raw scanning power of the new equipment means we can process samples faster than ever before. By reducing measurement time and improving ease of use, we also open up a number of opportunities for advanced quality control.

Eagle Alloy's revamped facilities include a brand new cafeteria that facilitates social distancing, locker rooms with showers, and a new and improved health clinic. Completed in summer of 2020, these improvements make Eagle Alloy an even better place to work, and an even more reliable partner in the metal casting industry.

Every metalcasting process has unique tooling requirements. In sand casting, actual molds and cores are expendable, but tooling elements are more permanent. Shell mold casting tooling includes pattern plates, coreboxes, cavities, ejection systems and gating. All of these separate parts come together to allow precise formation of shell molded parts, whether the foundry is doing a run of 100 or 100,000 parts. A variety of metalforming techniques can be used to create tooling for shell mold casting, and the ideal process should strike a balance between quality, longevity and price.

We don't have to say how good we are. Our customers do it for us!

Every six months, Eagle Alloy invites customers to fill out a survey rating their satisfaction with our services. We ask about every aspect of the supplier-customer relationship, from answering phone calls and emails to on-time delivery. Our company was founded in 1979 with a goal of providing high-quality castings and superior customer service; customer feedback is invaluable to us as we seek to better align our activities with our guiding principles.

Metal manufacturing professionals are a close-knit community, and just like any specialized group, we've developed our own way of speaking. To outsiders, many of whom are our friends, family and customers, metalcasting & machining lingo might seem like another language entirely. Here, we aim to demystify metalcasting & machining jargon so anyone can join the conversation.

Eagle Group casting facilities consistently receive top marks in customer satisfaction, scrap rates and return rates, but even with our commitment to quality and rigorous product development process, our castings occasionally require post-solidification adjustments prior to delivery. "Across all of our 2,000-plus part numbers, under 10% of castings fall out for repair," according to Eagle Alloy Chief Sales Officer, Jeff Cook, "and some part numbers have 1% or less." While the percentage is small, the cost of scrapping repairable defects can raise part price and delay delivery. For those reasons, many world-class casting facilities strongly recommend that customers allow weld repair at the foundry's discretion.

In the metal manufacturing industry, mechanical properties play a huge role when choosing the right alloy for each job. Throughout casting and machining processes, as well as during the product's useful life, the chosen material will be subject to many external forces. It’s up to the manufacturers to create products that perform as needed every step of the way. By understanding mechanical properties, manufacturing professionals can make the right choices for materials and processes.

MUSKEGON, MI - MAY 27, 2020 – Eagle Alloy is proud to announce our newly completed Multimedia Training Center. This facility will allow us to provide our customers with state-of-the-art training to go along with our plant tours and project discussions. Groups of up to 24* can relax and take in training and introductory presentations by our Sales, Engineering, Quality and Production department staffs. 

Physical properties are an important way of distinguishing one material from another. In the study and application of metallurgy, physical properties are often considered a broader category than mechanical properties, but not all properties overlap. Physical properties are most easily distinguished from mechanical properties by the method of testing. While mechanical properties require forces to be applied to obtain a measurement, physical properties can be measured without changing the material.

Operating as an essential business during the COVID-19 crisis is both an honor and a challenge. While Eagle Group companies have maintained continuous production, we have made a number of changes to our daily operations in order to maximize safety and clearly communicate new policies. Many of the lessons we've learned can be adopted by other manufacturing businesses as they prepare to reopen.