How a Cast Bushing Is Made

Primary process: Permanent-mold Casting. The full route, materials, tolerances and design tips for a cast bushing, with an indicative cost.

Permanent-mold CastingPrimary process
CastingFamily
8Route steps
+/-0.4mmTypical tol.

A cast bushing is primarily made by Permanent-mold Casting. Permanent (gravity) mould casting pours metal into a reusable metal mould under gravity. The metal mould chills faster than sand, giving a denser, stronger casting. Below is the full route to make a cast bushing, the materials it suits, the tolerances to expect and the main design points. The route is free, from the finder.

Step by step

How a cast bushing is made

The usual route, raw material to finished part. The amber step is where the cast bushing gets its basic shape.

  1. Alloy and tooling

    Choose the casting alloy for the cast bushing and make the pattern or metal die that forms the cavity.
  2. Permanent-mold Casting

    Melt the metal and pour it into the mould, then let the cast bushing solidify and cool.
    Tooling Medium   Tolerance ±0.25 to 0.8mm   Lead 3 to 6 weeks
  3. Fettling and cleaning

    Cut off the gates and risers, grind away the flash, and clean the raw casting.
  4. Machining

    Machine the mating faces, bores and datum surfaces to final tolerance: the as-cast surface is too rough for close fits.
    Tooling None   Tolerance ±0.125mm, to ±0.025mm   Lead 1 to 10 days
  5. Hole making

    Drill, ream and tap the fixing and functional holes.
    Tooling None   Tolerance ±0.05 to 0.2mm   Lead hours to days
  6. Heat treatment

    Stress-relieve or harden the cast bushing to reach the strength and hardness the design needs.
    Tooling n/a   Tolerance can distort   Lead days
  7. Surface finish

    Plate, anodise or powder coat for corrosion resistance and appearance.
    Tooling Low   Tolerance adds 0.05 to 0.2mm   Lead days
  8. Inspection

    Check critical dimensions and, for any part that holds pressure, leak-test before it ships.

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Precision

Tolerances to expect

TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
+/-0.4mm typicalcoarsefine+/-1mm+/-0.1mm+/-0.01mm+/-0.005mm
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials

Materials for a cast bushing

GradeWhy it suits this
Aluminium A356/A319Good castability + strength
Brass/bronzeBearing, corrosion
Design

Design tips

General pointers. The full design-for-manufacturing list for a cast bushing is in the dossier.

  • Sharp internal corners. Radius them.
  • Trapped cores. Design for mold opening.
Cost

What a cast bushing should cost

Better finish/properties than sand, cheaper tooling than die; the mid-volume sweet spot for alu.

PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
one-offat volumeVolume per order, low to highCost per part
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for a cast bushing at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$90 to 250 per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
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Everything you need to quote and source it

The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on a cast bushing and buy it well:

  • Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
  • Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
  • A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
  • The full DFM list and a ready-to-send RFQ draft

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See also: How Permanent-mold Casting works and the full route for a cast bushing in the finder.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How is a cast bushing made?
A cast bushing is primarily made by permanent-mold casting. The route is: Alloy and tooling; Permanent-mold Casting; Fettling and cleaning; Machining; Hole making; Heat treatment; Surface finish; Inspection.
What does a cast bushing cost?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $90 to 250 per part at 1 off and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. A model estimate, not a quote.
What material is a cast bushing made from?
Common choices are Aluminium A356/A319; Brass/bronze.
What is the main process for a cast bushing?
Permanent-mold Casting. Medium-volume aluminium parts needing better properties and finish than sand casting, like wheels and manifolds.
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