Lamar Tool & Die Casting, Inc.

Lamar Tool & Die Casting is a family-owned Modesto manufacturer, started in 1982 as a one-man shop. Its 20,000 sq ft plant houses automated die casting machines, CNC machining centers and an in-house tool and die department.

Capabilities

• Die casting mold design and manufacture
• Aluminum and zinc die casting
• CNC machining of die cast parts (vertical, horizontal and turning centers)
• Machining fixture design
• Powder coating and painting
• Vacuum anaerobic impregnation
• Vibratory deburring, ball burnishing and keyway broaching

Equipment

• Haas EC-400 horizontal and Haas DT-1 and TM-2P vertical machining centers
• Akira-Seiki Performa V4 vertical machining center
• Daewoo Puma 200 turning center
• Brown & Sharpe CMM and Mitutoyo CNC CMM
• Bridgeport knee mills, Victor lathes, Chevalier surface grinder

Materials

Aluminum, zinc and other exotic alloys.

Industries served

Automotive, agriculture, medical, surveillance, lighting, industrial and computer.

Quality & certifications

• Certified to ISO 9001 Quality Management System (as stated on site)

Request a quote

To request a quote from this shop, use the Request a Quote form. Tell us the part, material, quantity and deadline, and we will pass your request to the shop.

Die Cast Parts and Machining in Modesto: Lamar Tool & Die Casting

Die casting makes metal parts by forcing molten metal into a steel mold. It is fast, and it makes complex shapes with good repeatability. But a die cast part is rarely finished when it leaves the mold. Surfaces that must fit, threads that must hold and holes that must be accurate are usually machined afterward. Buyers in Modesto who source cast parts often ask how casting, tooling and machining relate. Lamar Tool & Die Casting, Inc. is listed here for die casting, tool and die, aluminum and zinc casting, broaching, impregnation and powder coating. This page explains those services in order.

The mold comes first

A die casting mold is a precise tool, built from hardened steel and designed for the part, the metal and the machine. Designing and building it takes time and money. The cost is spread across the parts made from it, so die casting makes the most sense when the quantity is high. If you only need a handful, machining from solid metal is usually cheaper.

Aluminum and zinc

Aluminum is light and strong for its weight, and it handles heat well. Zinc flows easily into fine detail and can hold thin walls and sharp edges. Each metal suits different parts. A buyer choosing between them might consider weight, strength, surface finish and cost.

Why machine a cast part

Casting is good at overall shape, but some features need more accuracy than a mold gives. Machining can face a sealing surface, drill and tap holes, and bore a precise opening. Planning those features at the design stage helps, since the casting can include extra material where machining will happen.

Impregnation

Some castings contain tiny pores. When a part must hold pressure or a liquid, those pores can leak. Impregnation seals them with a resin after casting and machining. Buyers whose parts carry fluid or gas should ask about it.

Broaching and finishing

Broaching cuts shapes such as keyways and splines with a single pass of a toothed tool. Powder coating adds a durable colored finish. Both are common secondary steps, and both should be part of the quote if you need them.

Details to share when you ask about cast parts

• Annual quantity and order size
• Metal choice, or the requirements that will decide it
• Which features must be machined
• Whether the part must hold pressure
• Finish and color

Tooling ownership and storage

If a mold is built for your part, ask who owns it, where it will be stored and how it will be maintained. These questions are practical and are best settled before the mold is made.

When casting is the wrong choice

Low volume, frequent design changes and very large parts are often better made another way. A fair shop will say so. Sending your quantities and drawings lets buyers in Modesto and nearby areas find out whether casting is worth the tooling cost.

When you are ready, use the Request a Quote form to describe the part and we will send your details on to the shop.

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