Casting Software.

The Castings Development Centre has released its PC-based methoding software Crusader 2000 and its weight estimation software Cavalier 2000. The latter is a versatile, Windows-based program for use with any type of alloy and many types of mold media. It is capable of greatly simplifying the process of estimating the weight of castings from engineering drawings. It is a completely new version of the popular DOSbased software with many enhanced facilities for storage and retrieval of castings and alloy databases, including improved digitizer functions and faster report production. The program can help reduce manufacturing costs through elimination of scrap, improvement of internal costing systems, reduced energy costs and improved metal utilization. Crusader 2000 is a Windowsbased steel castings methods calculation program designed to make rigging and risering calculations quicker and more accurate. It is based on the popular modulus concept and allows comprehensive but rapid calculation, printing, storage and future retrieval of casting methods. The software can reduce operating costs through enhanced metal utilization, lower casting rejects and improved quality. It is being expanded to cover iron, aluminum and copper-based alloys. Calculations include: number of feeders, cylindrical or oval, sand and insulated feeders, chills, neck sizes, sand-to-metal ratios and automatic calculation of overall casting yield. Crusader also interfaces with Cavalier for importing weights and casting and alloy databases.--The Castings Development Centre