Our Engineers using their design expertise can combine the latest 3D CAD technology (Solidworks and Fusion 360) with a comprehensive knowledge of the casting process to assist customers to realise efficient, cost-effective and reliable solutions to their requirements. Design data can be obtained by adapting existing legacy data such as fabrication drawings, reverse engineering from prototype samples combined with working with and assisting the customer to create an optimal solution that exploits the benefits of the near net shape casting process. By working closely with the customer we can add significant improvements to their bottom line.

Part or assembly simplification and the associated reduction in manufacturing steps often produce attractive cost savings. We utilise a range of design methodologies to define the metal component.

• Design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) – A technique to simplify the overall product structure, reduce manufacturing and assembly costs, and quantify these improvements.

• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) – A computer-based numerical method of calculating the deflection and stress of geometry under applied loads.

• Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) – A team-based procedure to analyse occurrences of failure to achieve intended functions of a part or system and rank these in terms of severity and likelihood so that controls can be implemented to eliminate or reduce these risks.

• Reverse engineering - using CMM surface probe scans we can produce very accurate profiles that import into the CAD software and allow very accurate models to be made, especially of freeform components (impellers etc) that are otherwise extremely difficult to measure.

• Once the geometry is determined tooling can be produced and first off components made. These can be verified with highly accurate dimensional analysis, using our Coordinate Measuring Machine. This gives assurance that the design intent is physically realised and maintained throughout the product lifecycle.

We offer a full range of machining services to complement the range of alloys used in our casting process and deliver fully finished items or assemblies. Our expertise and process knowledge range from conventional computer numerically controlled machining such as milling, turning, gear cutting and grinding operations to non-conventional Spark eroding (EDM) and 3D laser cutting. Significant reductions in machining cost are achieved using the near net shape casting process, combined with reductions in batch processing time and material wastage, especially with expensive high-performance alloys.

Supreme can offer a range of digital solutions to enable prototyping and very low volume production parts without the use of traditional tooling. Additive technologies such as Fused Deposition Modelling and 3D printing together with conventional CNC machining of foam and wax blocks can produce patterns that can be used in our standard casting process, producing items suitable for design validation without tooling investment. We can cast your 3D printed parts or print and cast your 3D model for you (please provide Parasolid, .stp or .step files).

• General Heat Treatment

  We provide a full range of general heat treating including annealing, stress relieving, normalising, homogenisation, tempering, precipitation, etc.

• Vacuum Furnace

  Heat treating under a vacuum maintains the surface finish of components. Vacuum heat treating is used for bright hardening and tempering, bright annealing, solution annealing of stainless steel, and vacuum brazing.

• Induction hardening

  Induction hardening is a process where the component is heated by electromagnetic induction. A high-frequency current is passed through a coil that is near the area to be heated. The heated area is then quickly quenched using water spray. The heating and quenching are very rapid and localised.

• Carburising

  A surface hardening treatment in which carbon is diffused into the surface of a low carbon/low alloy steel at high temperature (approx. (900ᵒC)). After quenching the result is a component with a high hardness on the surface, but with a softer, tough core.

• Nitriding

  Nitriding is a surface hardening treatment that introduces nitrogen into the surface of the steel at a relatively low temperature (approx. 520ᵒC). At this temperature, the nitrogen reacts with alloying elements in the steel and forms a hard compound known as a ‘nitride’. Because of the low processing temperatures and the absence of quenching, nitriding is a very low distortion process in comparison to conventional heat treatment.

• Carbonitriding

  Similar to Carburising but as well as diffusing carbon into the steel and the addition of nitrogen is made at the same time.

We provide a wide range of surface finishing options. These include physical finishes such as:

• Sand shot and glass bead blasting

• Polishing – by hand and automated

Chemical finishes such as:

• Painting

• Electro-polishing

• Electrolytic and electroless plating (eg Nickel or Cadmium)

• Conversions coatings such as anodising, phosphating and black oxide

• Milspec coatings

Supreme has expertise in providing fully built metal component assemblies. Working to customer specifications we regularly supply assemblies or sub-assemblies ready for integration into larger systems. The near net shape process economically justifies complicated and multifunctional parts to be specified. Typically system performance is improved by gains in Strength-to-weight and reduction in part number count over existing fabricated designs. Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) techniques are highly compatible with the investment casting process and large labour and logistics savings with functional improvements are readily achieved.

We provide a wide range of inspection and testing services such as the following:

• Metal chemical analysis: Chemical analysis of alloys using an ARL 3460 optical emission spectrometer running the latest OXSAS analytical software.

• Mechanical testing: A wide range of testing can be done including tensile, impact, proof load and wear testing.

• Non-destructive testing (NDT): This includes Radiography, Ultrasonic, Liquid penetrant, magnetic particle and magnetic permeability testing.

Inspection and design verification reports - our CMM can produce automated reports on casting surfaces and compare dimensional deviations to the parts' CAD file. Very valuable for first off evaluation before and after machining.

• Temperature stabilised metrology lab - a full range of handheld measuring instruments.

• Coordinate measuring machine: Sheffield Discovery 3 with PC-DMIS Cad control software.

• CAD software: Solidworks Premium - including FEA of parts and assemblies.