I have a project that has “Buy America” provisions, so how can I get Cast Connex involved?
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about our products and services
custom castings
I have a project that has “Buy America” provisions, so how can I get Cast Connex involved?
Cast Connex can have the castings produced in a US-based steel foundry and hence meet Buy America / By American provisions.
Can cast steel products be galvanized?
Yes, though galvanizing shouldn’t be considered as a high-quality AESS coating, as it has a somewhat motley appearance. Also note that the resulting colour of the galvanized steel will differ between the cast steel and the rolled steel products due to minor differences in chemistry.
Can cast steel products be galvanized?
I have heard that castings have a poorer surface finish than rolled steel products. Is this true?
The surface finish of castings depends upon the casting specifications. Every casting process produces a casting having a unique surface texture / uniformity, but any casting surface can be upgraded to be just as uniform than rolled steel products. Whether or not upgrading is actually necessary, though, is dependent upon on a number of factors, including: the casting process, the viewing distances involved in the finished structure, and the coatings that are to be applied to the structural steel. Ribs, reveals, or recesses located on the casting, proximally to welded joints between the rolled and cast steel components, can also be used to accommodate a difference in surface texture between the cast and rolled steels.
I have heard that castings have a poorer surface finish than rolled steel products. Is this true?
What the process in getting Cast Connex involved in a project?
As castings must often be carefully integrated into the structural and architectural plan of a building, it is recommended to engage Cast Connex prior to the completion of the Construction Documentation stage of a project. Usually we will perform some preliminary design and provide ROM pricing to the design team as part of our sales process. Cast Connex can assist in the development of a Performance Specification for custom castings, which can then be used to tender the castings with the rest of the structural package. In this case we provide proposals to the bidding steel contractors.
What the process in getting Cast Connex involved in a project?
DIABLO BOLTED splice
CAST CONNEX Diablo™ Bolted Splices are cast steel fittings that enable unobtrusive field bolted splices in circular hollow structural section (HSS) members.
You suggested it was best to use a turning roll but I don’t know what that is/ don’t have one/ looks expensive?
One only need assemble a jig with four wheels sufficient to hold and turn the tubes, a variable speed motor with belt to rotate the brace at the rate required for the welding of the connector to the tube. Anything from dolly wheels to light trailer wheels can be considered and obtained, for example, at an auto scrap yard or auto supply store.
You suggested it was best to use a turning roll but I don’t know what that is/ don’t have one/ looks expensive?
Will the qualification of the WPS/PQR impede my bid/fabrication/erection schedule?
No. We provide a Sample WPS/PQR that your welding engineer can use as a starting point to tailor to your equipment, procedures and practices. We will also provide you with two weld test plates of the cast steel material for the actual weld tests. We can ship the test plates ahead of the rest of the order.
Will the qualification of the WPS/PQR impede my bid/fabrication/erection schedule?
Why do I need a WPS/PQR?
As the material we use, ASTM A958 SC8620 80/50, is not yet a pre-qualified base metal per AWS / CWB, a WPS needs to be developed and verified with a PQR. Note, however, that the joint is pre-qualified.
Why do I need a WPS/PQR?
How do I fire protect the DBS?
You would fire protect the Diablo Bolted Splice similarly to how you would protect rolled steel. If the protection system is Intumescent and cover plates are used, we recommend spraying painting the outside of the covers with the intumescent.
How do I fire protect the DBS?
High Integrity Blocks
CAST CONNEX High Integrity Blocks® structural elements are specially engineered and manufactured solid steel sections which simplify the design and fabrication of – and provide unparalleled strength, quality, and reliability in heavily loaded structural connections.
What kind of engineering is used to design the block?
The types of connections that use HIBs are highly constrained with a complex stress fields. The resulting stresses are highly tri-axial, with an increased likely hood of brittle and ductile fracture for both fabricated or HIB solutions. Cast Connex will conduct on non-linear finite element analysis on the block that includes the connected members. The analysis will include advanced fracture models that account for brittle and ductile fracture that result from high tri- axial stress states.
What kind of engineering is used to design the block?
What should my specification look like for a HIB?
Cast Connex can offer a sample specification. It’s important to use this specification, because it sets the performance requirements for the material and also delegates engineering of the block to the block supplier. Engineering design of the block connection is critically important to avoid a premature failure do to the confined nature of the connection.
What should my specification look like for a HIB?
How do I preheat such a large piece of steel?
Induction pads are used to heat the block to ensure proper fusion of welds.
How do I preheat such a large piece of steel?
Do I need a WPS/PQR?
Yes, the HIB material is proprietary and thus is not a standard grade listed in AWS D1.1. We can provide material for use in qualifying a welding procedure.
Do I need a WPS/PQR?
High Strength Connectors
CAST CONNEX High Strength Connectors™ simplify and improve connections to round hollow structural section (HSS) brace members in seismic-resistant concentrically braced frames.
Can braces fitted with HSCs fit within stud walls?
Yes! See photographs from “St. Lambert” project for an example.
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Will Cast Connex provide fully fabricated members?
We can offer fabrication if the project fabricator would like. We don’t usually like to provide fabrication pricing during bid, but after the contract is awarded we can offer to fabricate.
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Are the HSCs already attached to the tube?
No, they must be welded to the tube in the shop by the fabricator. We supply only the “blank” connectors.
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You suggested it was best to use a turning roll but I don’t know what that is/ don’t have one/ looks expensive?
One only need assemble a jig with four wheels sufficient to hold and turn the tubes, a variable speed motor with belt to rotate the brace at the rate required for the welding of the connector to the tube. Anything from dolly wheels to light trailer wheels can be considered and obtained, for example, at an auto scrap yard or auto supply store.
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Scorpion Yielding Connectors
CAST CONNEX Scorpion™ Yielding Connectors are modular, replaceable, standardized hysteretic fuses that provide enhanced ductility and improved performance in the retrofit of seismically deficient structures or for use in the Seismic Force Resisting System of new structures.
Are SYCs available in larger yield forces?
We have designs for larger connectors and plan to qualify test them in the future. For special projects, custom SYCs can be designed but project-specific testing will likely be required in such cases.
Are SYCs available in larger yield forces?
Why do I have to use a bolted connection on the brace-to-gusset connection?
The connection between the brace and gusset plate is required to be bolted because the change in brace angle due to lateral frame deformation is accommodated via rotation in the SYC and rotation at this bolted joint.
Why do I have to use a bolted connection on the brace-to-gusset connection?
The connection between the brace and gusset plate is required to be bolted because the change in brace angle due to lateral frame deformation is accommodated via rotation in the SYC and rotation at this bolted joint.
The connection between the brace and gusset plate is required to be bolted because the change in brace angle due to lateral frame deformation is accommodated via rotation in the SYC and rotation at this bolted joint.
The connection between the brace and gusset plate is required to be bolted because the change in brace angle due to lateral frame deformation is accommodated via rotation in the SYC and rotation at this bolted joint.
Is the bolted connection between the fingers and the splice plate assembly a field connection?
No. The bolted connection between the splice plate assembly and yielding fingers is a precision-machined bolted connection that is assembled before the connectors are shipped to the customer. The field connection(s) are between the brace and SYC and, perhaps, the SYC and gusset plate.
Is the bolted connection between the fingers and the splice plate assembly a field connection?
What part of the brace is supplied by Cast Connex?
Cast Connex supplies assembled yielding connectors which include the cast arms and fingers, the cover plates, and the splice plate assembly. The fabricator supplies the brace member and end plate connection and must weld or bolt the splice plate assembly to the corner gusset plate.
What part of the brace is supplied by Cast Connex?
Timber end connectors
CAST CONNEX Timber End Connectors™ are clevis-type fittings designed to connect to the ends of heavy timber or glue-laminated structural elements loaded in predominately tension or compression for use in architecturally exposed applications.
What is the largest screw that can be installed when end screwing is selected as the connection to the wood?
In this case all the TECs will be drilled with 17/32” diameter holes to accommodate ½” screws. The pocket can only accommodate a screw that is 4”-4.75” long. Longer screws can be used with the connectors; however, a specific installation method must be followed to enable the installation of longer screws.
What is the largest screw that can be installed when end screwing is selected as the connection to the wood?
Will the qualification of the WPS/PQR impede my bid/fabrication/erection schedule?
No. We provide a Sample WPS/PQR that your welding engineer can use as a starting point to tailor to your equipment, procedures and practices. We will also provide you with two weld test plates of the cast steel material for the actual weld tests. We can ship the test plates ahead of the rest of the order.
Will the qualification of the WPS/PQR impede my bid/fabrication/erection schedule?
Do I need a WPS/PQR to weld the knife plates?
Yes. The material we use, ASTM A958 SC8620 80/50, is not yet a pre-qualified base metal per AWS / CWB, a WPS needs to be developed and verified via PQR and testing.
Do I need a WPS/PQR to weld the knife plates?
Do you have a fire rating for these?
No.
Do you have a fire rating for these?
Universal Pin Connectors & architectural tapers
CAST CONNEX Universal Pin Connectors™ are sleek, clevis-type standardized fittings designed to connect to hollow structural section (HSS) elements for use in architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) applications.
Do the UPCs and ARTs come welded together?
No, the UPCs and ARTs are shipped in two pieces, potentially from separate facilities. This requires that the fabricator develop a WPS/PQR to weld casting to casting as well as one to weld casting to rolled steel.
Do the UPCs and ARTs come welded together?
Will Cast Connex provide fully fabricated members?
We can offer fabrication if the project fabricator would like. We don’t usually like to provide fabrication pricing during bid, but after the contract is awarded we can offer to fabricate.
Will Cast Connex provide fully fabricated members?
Are the UPCs already attached to the tube?
No, they must be welded to the tube in the shop by the fabricator. We supply only the connectors and pin hardware.
Are the UPCs already attached to the tube?
You suggested it was best to use a turning roll but I don’t know what that is/ don’t have one/ looks expensive?
One only need assemble a jig with four wheels sufficient to hold and turn the tubes, a variable speed motor with belt to rotate the brace at the rate required for the welding of the connector to the tube. Anything from dolly wheels to light trailer wheels can be considered and obtained, for example, at an auto scrap yard or auto supply store.
You suggested it was best to use a turning roll but I don’t know what that is/ don’t have one/ looks expensive?