Here at Joyworks we’re not ALL play. In fact, lately, we’ve been all about learning. Boy, are we developing respect for our industry friends who do lost-foam iron castings! Over the years, through our affiliation with Applied Process, we’ve been involved in the Austempering of millions of ductile iron castings produced by the lost-foam method but, MAN, do we have a new appreciation for them now. We’re learning (or re-learning) more about ferrostatic head, grain size, viscosity, vents and vibrators than we ever wanted to…..but we’re slowly inching towards an ADI game changer thanks to the persistence of Kathy, Meghan, Demetri and Ryan. Here’s a shout out to Greg Miskinis, Larry Helm, Ray Monroe, Von Richards and a host of others who have given us sage advice.
There’s an old saying that everybody who’s ever eaten in a restaurant thinks they can run one. That saying has taken on new meaning in the development of our lost-foam ADI breakthrough. Heck, we’re just beginning to know what we don’t know on the project…and that’s what makes it so fun….and, no, I’m not going to tell you what it is…..yet.
Thanks also to ASM International’s Detroit Chapter for allowing Joyworks to be the official supplier again this year of the cast aluminum speakers awards.
It looks like Joyworks might just be involved in a project to re-create aluminum shoulder brackets for the University of Michigan’s Rifle Team. The lightweight brackets are used to brace against the butt of the long-barrel .22 caliber target rifles used by the team in competition. Team member (and Aerospace Engineering Senior) David Ameche, and the team are busily planning the project and it is hoped that the castings could be produced before the Seniors leave town. The UoM 3-D lab may have a role in the project. By the way……David Ameche will be joining our happy band of Joyworkers as a part-time assistant, on loan from Applied Process. Welcome aboard, David!
As the Foundry Educational Foundation Key Professor at the University of Michigan I was pleased to see a record sign-up of students joining the student chapter of The American Foundry Society (AFS). Leo Baran from AFS will address the students at the Michigan Materials Society (MMS) lunch on 09 March. A sponsored lunch (read “free food”) and an interesting speaker always bring in a good crowd. Thanks to Joyce Loh and the MMS officers for their contributions to the upcoming event.
We're now all clad in our purple "Joyworks: What a pour way to make a living" t-shirts as the result of a plan hatched by Dr. Kathy Hayrynen. She was kind enough to provide me with a (unique) red one.....Thanks for that!
Next stop….a bronze for our new grandson, Jules Henry Keough. Let the play begin!