Benefits of Custom Metal Products in the Agricultural Industry

The agricultural sector uses a variety of machines to carry out challenging and time-consuming tasks from planting and harvesting to irrigation and grain storage. As a large contributor to the North American economy, the industry requires equipment with reliable, high-quality parts to continue to meet our nation’s needs. Fabrication processes like metal spinning and stamping offer many advantages in creating such components.

Sometimes referred to as metal turning or spin forming, metal spinning is a technique that takes flat or cylindrical metal and transforms it into a completed, hollow end product with circular cross-sections. Another efficient and low-cost method, metal stamping utilizes pre-cut dies and applied pressure to stamp components from sheet metal. Both processes produce robust, long-lasting parts ideal for agricultural projects.

Benefits of Custom Metal Spinning and Stamping

Metal spinning and stamping processes offer a variety of advantages in creating durable, strong, and accurate parts that can handle rugged applications in the agricultural industry.

Benefits of Metal Spinning

• Low- to high-volume production. Metal spinning can assist with prototyping and small runs through manual or partially automated processes. Alternately, computer numerical control (CNC) machinery generates high volumes of tight-tolerance parts using automation.
• Decreased turn times. Metal spinning is an efficient process, particularly when you combine it with automation. It provides a great opportunity for reducing order turnaround times.
• Reduced costs. Metal spinning involves much less of an initial investment than other metal forming techniques. There are also fewer costs associated with its tooling.
• Design flexibility. You can use tooling changes to easily modify part designs, especially when the alteration simply involves a sizing reduction.
• Enhanced metallurgical properties. Using this process to create components actually improves the metallurgy and tensile strength in a part by realigning the metal’s grain structure. This gives you the capability to use a lighter gauge of material for the same project without sacrificing durability.
• Multi-process capabilities. As a versatile manufacturing technique, you can integrate other processes into metal spinning production, including welding, rolling, and deep drawing, to create parts with complex designs.

Benefits of Metal Stamping

• Precision. Custom metal stamping enables you to achieve a component’s unique specifications with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability.
• Durable strength. This manufacturing method guarantees that your product can endure an array of difficulties for reliable, lasting use.
• Efficiency. Metal stamping is an efficient process, decreasing both production time and the associated costs while boosting output and profits.
• Compatibility. Enabling custom designs, metal stamping allows you to generate sheet metal parts with a size and shape that will ultimately be compatible with your equipment, which isn’t typical for the majority of stock metal parts.

Custom Metal Spinning and Stamping From Metal Craft

A virtually endless array of metal-spun and stamped parts are involved in planting, harvesting, storing, handling, and temperature control equipment. Since 1964, Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping has supported our agricultural customers across North America with top-notch metal spinning and stamping services for prototyping and high- and low-volume manufacturing.

To meet your project’s unique size, shape, material, and tooling specifications, we draw from our background in custom metal fabrication and rely on state-of-the-art presses and CNC equipment. Metal Craft’s processes are compatible with aluminum, brass, and copper, as well as cold-rolled, galvanized, and stainless steel, so that the parts we create will provide you with the performance your application requires.

Metal Craft’s Custom Solutions

Whether you need parts for heavy machinery or something as small and simple as a fence post cap, the team at Metal Craft can provide you with agricultural equipment metal products. Through a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, we strive to go above and beyond your expectations with superior quality in our offerings and timeliness in our deliveries. To inquire about our custom product capabilities, request a quote today and partner with Metal Craft on your next agricultural project.

Venturi Valve: What You Need to Know

What Is a Venturi Valve?

A venturi valve is an hourglass-shaped tube, with either end of the valve having a wider diameter than the narrowed center. Inside the valve is a cone that moves parallel to the body of the valve. As pressure within the valve changes, the cone moves forward or backward to modify flow rates through the valve assembly. 

Venturi valves are specifically designed to provide flow regulation in response to pressure changes. HVAC ducts use venturi valves as airflow control valves to regulate and maintain airflow through the system. Unlike other methods, the venturi valve independently regulates airflow in response to changes in static pressure, without the need for communication between system components. The independence and fine control offered by venturi valves makes them ideal for maintaining both constant and variable airflow based on external conditions.

Venturi Valve Options

Venturi valves are available in a variety of factory-programmed calibrations to meet the specific requirements of numerous applications. They can be composed of a wide range of materials, including aluminum and steel, and are often treated or coated to enhance strength, chemical resistance, and corrosion resistance. Thermal insulation can also be added to the valve to reduce thermal loss and increase energy savings. Numerous valve flow designs are available depending on the needs of your application. 

Constant and actuated valves are the two most common venturi valve designs. Constant volume venturi valves are engineered to provide a steady flow of air or fluid through the valve, regardless of duct pressure fluctuations. They are best suited for outdoor airflow regulation, ventilated cabinets, and biological safety cabinets. Actuated valves are typically used in dynamic systems where quick valve operation is critical. They use a cone situated on top of a shaft to restrict the flow of air through the valve opening to ensure consistent control. 

Advantages of Venturi Valves

Venturi valves offer a variety of benefits for a wide range of applications and industries, including hospitals, universities, biological safety cabinets, and laboratories. They are incorporated into ventilation and HVAC systems to provide consistent, accurate control of pressure, temperature, and airflow.

Venturi valves are highly sensitive and operate independently, making them quick to respond and reducing the need for extensive room pressurization testing. They react extremely quickly to signals, making them perfect for sensitive operations in labs and ventilated cabinets. 

Some venturi valve designs incorporate full shutoffs, which will keep the valve closed when not in operation in order to save energy. This energy efficiency is compounded by thermal insulation, which reduces thermal loss. 

Why Partner with Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping?

Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping is a premier manufacturer of quality HVAC system components, including venturi valves. Our state-of-the-art metal spinning manufacturing process allows us to create highly durable, long-lasting components that can withstand even the most extreme operating conditions. We are pleased to offer venturi valves in a wide range of materials, including aluminum, cold-rolled steel, and stainless steel, and we are capable of providing custom manufactured valves in a wide range of sizes. 

In addition to our exceptional metal spinning techniques, we use laser cutting technology to enhance your product quality. Using cutting-edge laser technology, we ensure highly accurate, symmetrical fan housings for optimal valve operation. With decades of experience, we understand the unique complexity of venturi valves, and we ensure highly effective, durable designs based on customer requirements and specifications.

Contact the Experts at Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping

Since 1964, Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping has been pleased to offer a wide range of metal manufacturing services, including metal stamping and spinning, and engineering. We pride ourselves on producing quality products and components for customers in every industry, from architecture and industrial installations to HVAC systems, lighting fixtures, and even furniture. To learn more about our venturi valves and other products and services, contact us today or request a quote to start your order.

Copper Post Cap Production and Applications

Wooden decks and fencing need to be protected from the elements to keep them rot-free for extended periods of time. To achieve this, fitted caps can be installed on the top of posts in order to preserve them. While these caps can be produced from many materials, copper is a particularly long-lasting and attractive choice.

At Metal Craft Spinning & Stamping, we offer copper post caps designed to enhance the architectural features of your home or building while preventing wood rot. As a cost-effective protection option, our copper post caps are simple to install, and they are compatible with most post sizes. Copper post caps offer many benefits, making them useful in a wide range of applications. 

Copper: A Smart Choice in Post Cap Production

Copper is a widely used alloy, and its beautiful appearance has led it to become particularly popular in decorative applications. Additionally, its excellent ability to conduct heat and electricity along with its high resistance to corrosion and good formability has allowed it to be used in many industries, with applications in roofing, lighting, and electronics. 

One significant attribute of copper is that it can be remelted and used again without losing any of its chemical or physical properties. This has led it to be one of the most widely recycled metals. Copper can also be combined with other metals to form alloys, with the two most common copper alloys being brass and bronze.

How Post Caps Are Made

When producing copper post caps, the first step is to specify the required size and decide on which design elements the finished product will have. Next, metal stamping and spinning processes shape flat metal into the desired post cap shape. Metal spinning can be used to create products from 1 inch to 8 inches in diameter, while metal stamping is used to create many shapes and features. 

Spinning and stamping are both cost-effective processes with quick production times that lead to a weld-free, smooth finished product. Whether you require high or low volume production, Metal Craft Spinning & Stamping can manufacture the metal components you need. If you need help selecting the best metal forming technique for your application, our experts are here to assist you with every step of the process. 

Copper Post Cap Applications

Copper post caps are not only decorative features that add to the beauty of your property, but they’re also an extremely important protective asset for your posts. Properly capped posts remain in good condition for years, saving you lots of money on the cost of replacement. Post caps can be produced according to nearly any design plan to match your personal taste and style preferences. 

There are many possible applications for copper post caps including: 

• Marine decks
• Yard decks
• Rail posts
• Fences
• Mailboxes
• Arbors
• Gates
• Lampposts

Metal Craft Spinning & Stamping delivers custom-fitted post caps according to the specific measurements and design ideas of your project. Whatever your application, our team of metal-forming specialists will deliver accurately fabricated pieces. 

Copper Post Caps from Metal Craft Spinning & Stamping

If you’re considering adding copper caps to beautify and preserve your fence or deck posts, Metal Craft Spinning & Stamping has a cost-effective custom design solution that will meet all of your needs. Copper in particular provides a sophisticated look that will continue to shine well into the future. For more information about our copper post caps, or to get started on your next project, contact us today.

How Venturi Valves Can Optimize Your HVAC Air Flow Performance

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are essential components of commercial and industrial structures. However, more than just warming or cooling a designated space, HVAC systems are designed to improve air quality and ensure maximum comfort for anyone inside the building.

Variable air volume (VAV) systems or boxes are a common component installed for a commercial or industrial structure and perform a converse operation by supplying variable air flow to different spaces within the building at a constant temperature.

VAV boxes are an important component of any VAV system, as they have strategically placed calibrated dampers that control airflow to specific locations within a building. Although many commercial applications use VAV boxes, these systems often come with their fair share of problems. Some issues with VAV systems include:

• Time delays between the VAV box airflow sensors and controls, causing frequent adjustments
• Loss of efficiency  within the structure’s VAV system and HVAC components.
• Dirty airflow sensors result in efficiency loss, causing routine checking and cleaning 
• Adjustment delays between system components
• Airborne risks in critical or hazardous applications

Manufacturing environments, laboratories, and other environments that rely on proper ventilation to safely remove harmful microorganisms or particulates from the air need a more thorough solution

The Venturi valve offers a more responsive solution for these critical applications, and are specifically engineered to facilitate superior regulation of air flow. Instead of relying on signals from the VAV system to adjust to changes in air pressure, Venturi valves measure pressure independently from the system and adjust without waiting for signal exchanges between system components, providing immediate airflow adjustments with ± 5% accuracy. 

Working with Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping

Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping is a leading manufacturer of long-lasting HVAC system components. We know that HVAC systems depend on tough, durable parts for both indoor and outdoor ventilation purposes. Because of this, we use the processes of metal spinning to build these components, In this operation, a spinning lathe forms a blank metal disc into the desired shape for the customers dimensional requirements.

Metal spinning from a certified HVAC provider is more cost-effective than multi-part assemblies.  It is also less time consuming, versatile, and design changes are easily accommodated. Metal spinning an HVAC venturi valve also prevents pressure disruption from damage caused by inclement weather or improper welding of multiple pieces.

Contact Us Today if you’d like to learn how our HVAC fabrication techniques, capabilities, and superior-quality HVAC venturi valves can be your next solution! We use both CNC machines and hand lathes to manufacture products according to customer needs.