“Foundry in a Box”
To help bring the metal casting experience to young people, the
American Foundry Society (AFS) Saginaw Valley Chapter (SVC) presents
an educational, hands-on activity called “Foundry in a Box.”
This unique experience was created to get the next generation of
engineers and technicians excited about Science Technology
Engineering and Math (STEM) and this one associated
career - called castings.
A Foundry in a Box is just what it sounds like, a portable
foundry. Just take a box on wheels and add hot pots, tin
nuggets, small patterns and molds, and many small items like gloves,
safety glasses, brushes, pliers, snips, drills, runners, and a pail
of sand. You can play in the sand (molding) or the metal
(finishing) with hands on training provided. The goal of this
experience is to teach youth what a foundry and metal melting is all
about by taking the Foundry in a Box on the road.
This experience begins with an explanation of the many types of
metal castings and the process steps. Kids select their
casting to make and pack the mold with sand. The molten tin is
then poured in the mold and after it is cooled, the casting is
extracted from the sand. The excess metal is trimmed and the
kids get to take home what they made. The AFS SVC has
conducted this activity with many students, including STEM events at
local universities, elementary and middle school presentations, and
large Boy and Girl Scout events.
Check out our 5 year summary of FIB events. THANKS to all the volunteers - we are working on bringing in the next generation of Foundry Men and Women!
Click here to Volunteer or to ask for more information
Foundry in a Box Events: (updated 10/06/2023)
2016 Sci Fest at Delta Results from Sue.
Mind Trekkers - Delta College Thank You Letter
STEM Thank you letter - Handy Middle School
Bay City Public Schools Thank You Letter
Foundry in a Box Caseville Pictures
Bay City Schools STEM Feedback Letter
Pictures from the FIB event at St. Roberts in Flushing
Bay City Public Schools SPOTLIGHT - FIB
Bay City Public Schools Thank You Letter
Midland Daily News - Northeast Middle School
Bay City Public Schools Thank You Letter 2018 STEM
Havens Elementary Foundry In A Box News Paper Article
FIB event at Customer Care and Aftersales in Grand Blanc
GM Grand Blanc Thank You Letter
Thank you letter from The Rock Center for Youth Development
Bay City Public School Thank You Letter
Foundry in a Box Sponsors:
Hickman, Williams & Company
Belmont Metals, Inc.
Carpenter Brothers, Inc.
General Motors LLC - SMCO
Donald Brink
Foundry in a Box Information:
1 FIB Intro with pictures
2 List of FIB equipment with prices
3 AFS SVC How to Do FIB
4 Foundry In Box Introduction script
5 Tri-fold Introduction Board and Castings Poster
6 Career Opp Handout_Feb 2015_Web
7 Castings in World_Feb 2015_Web
8 intro letter for potential events
9 AFS SVC FIB 2015 planning calendar of events
10 email request volunteers FIB in x timeframe
11 email to volunteers with final arrangements for FIB event
12 FIB station signs
13 Chemical Approval Form - Tin
14 Tin nuggetts from Metalshipper.com
15 Chemical Approval Form - K Bond Sand
16 MSDS K-BOND Molding Sand 2-5-15
17 Frankenmuth Pre-Teach FIB rev1
18 AFS Melt Temperature draft3b w Al and Sand 11x17