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metal foundries custom casting engineers.

About Precision Enterprises

How long have you been in business?

Since 1947.  We started out as a pattern shop, then started up a small sand foundry in Chicago’s west side.  Added a small machining facility prior to the CNC technology of today.  

Today we have 2 foundries, a complete CNC machining facility, and engineering campus, all located in Somonauk, Illinois.  We are a third generation, privately held corporation.

Do you hold any certifications?

Yes, we are currently certified to ISO 9001:2015.

Are there any major airports close to you?

Both O’Hare and Midway are approximately 90 minutes from our facility.

Do you encourage plant visits?

Yes, we not only encourage visits, but many of our customers audit our plants on a regular basis.

Production & Value-Added Services

What are your typical lead times?

Although it varies from workload, patterns range from 8-10 weeks, raw castings from 4-6 weeks, machining from 4-6 weeks.

What type of information do you need to generate pricing?

.Iges files, .step files, etc.  We use SolidWorks and flow software on a daily basis.  Solidworks will translate 99% of the current files being used today.  Also include information about quantities such as estimated annual usage. Specify alloy, also list any special requirements the part may experience in usage.  Does the part have to be pressure tight, experience any unusual load, characteristics that our years of experience with castings may help in your decisions about alloy and wall thicknesses.  We have an engineering staff that would be glad to guide you with your new casting project.

What value-added capabilities do you offer?

We offer many secondary options.  The most popular are powder coat, wet paint, polishing, a variety of types of anodize, pressure/leak test, several mechanical finishes to the cast surface, minor assembly, and more.

Foundry capabilities

How many furnaces do you have?

We currently have 8 furnaces.  Since we pour multiple alloys daily, we segregate our metal to avoid cross contamination.  Each furnace is dedicated to a specific alloy.  Metal certifications are provided upon request. Read more about why your aluminum foundry should always have multiple furnaces. 

What is your casting weight range?

From ounces to 150 pounds.

What type of molding machines do you have?

Squeezer, Rotolift, Cope and Drag, floor molding, and Sinto Automatic Molding machines.

Do you have in-house pattern and tooling capabilities?

Yes.  Our pattern engineers can provide temporary tooling such as wood or Renshape patterns for prototypes, and tooling that is machined from aluminum billet directly from your CAD files.

How do you control porosity in your foundry?

We degas every heat in each furnace with argon prior to any pour.  We also pour a test chip that is solidified under vacuum, then cut and polished, to expose any porosity, prior to any pour.   Our furnace tenders check the temperature range of the metals of all pours during heat.  Our sand system controls the moisture content of the sand on a continual basis.  Too much moisture in the sand can introduce gas into the casting surface.  Gating is developed and installed by our flow analysis software prior to running any production.  This ensures proper metal flow into the mold eliminating any possibility of turbulence porosity.

Machining Capabilities

Do you have on-site machining capabilities?

Yes.  We have a separate building, approximately 1 mile from our foundry.  We currently have over 20  CNC machining centers, ranging from small verticals to large horizontals.  Size:  We can machine any casting that we presently pour.

How do you guarantee the quality and tolerances of what is machined?

We have a complete quality program that adheres to our ISO certification.  Ongoing checks are run at the machine, and all critical dimensions are checked on our coordinate measuring machine.  We provide our customers with documented data charts on all critical dimensions.

What machining services does Precision Enterprises provide?

We provide a full range of machining services including CNC machining, precision machining, custom machining services, and high-tolerance machining. With both vertical and horizontal machining centers, as well as 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis capabilities, we can handle projects from prototypes to production runs.

Can you provide both aluminum casting and machining under one roof?

Yes, we can provide both aluminum casting and machining under one roof. As a foundry with 70+ years of experience and more than 20 CNC machining centers, we pour the castings and machine them in-house, streamlining production, reducing costs, and ensuring tighter quality control.

Do you offer tight-tolerance machining for industries like robotics and medical devices?

Yes, we offer tight-tolerance machining for industries like medical devices, robotics, and more. Our 5-axis machining centers and ISO-certified processes ensure that every part meets strict tolerance and compliance requirements.

What industries does Precision Enterprises serve with machining services?

We serve a wide range of industries with machining services, including medical, robotics, automotive, musical, and architecture. Whether you need small batch machining or high-mix production, we deliver precision parts that meet your specifications.

Can I request a custom machining quote for a small batch or prototype run?

Yes, you can request a custom machining quote for a small batch or prototype run. Precision Enterprises specializes in both low-volume machining and production machining, making us an ideal partner for short-run machining projects in Illinois and across the USA.

What machining equipment do you use for complex parts?

For complex parts, we use advanced machining equipment including vertical 5-axis CNC machining centers, horizontal 4-axis machines, and our ST-35 lathe. These machines allow us to produce intricate geometries, maintain tight tolerances, and deliver consistent quality.