StahlGuss

Stahlguss, or steel casting, refers to the production of steel components by pouring molten steel into a mold where it solidifies into the final shape. It covers a range of casting techniques used to achieve high strength, toughness, or complex geometries that may be difficult to obtain by forging or machining alone.

Common methods for steel casting include sand casting, shell molding, and investment casting. Steel is produced in a steelmaking vessel, such as an electric arc furnace or basic oxygen furnace, refined and alloyed in a ladle, and then poured into molds. After solidification, parts are shakeout, cleaned, heat-treated as required, and finished by machining or surface treatment.

Materials used include carbon, alloy, stainless, and tool steels. Key quality factors are chemical composition, cleanliness, and the absence of defects such as porosity, shrinkage, or non-metallic inclusions. Quality control employs non-destructive testing, dimensional measurement, and process controls to meet relevant standards.

Applications include automotive and heavy machinery components, valve and pump housings, gears, and structural parts where complex geometry or near-net shape is advantageous. Advantages of steel casting include design flexibility and reduced machining for complex parts; limitations involve potential casting-related defects and higher unit costs at low production volumes compared with forging or machining.

Stahlguss development followed advances in steelmaking, molding technologies, and quality assurance in the 19th and 20th centuries. Modern practice is guided by national and international standards from bodies such as ASTM and ISO, which specify material grades, chemical limits, testing methods, and tolerances.