Saginaw Valley Chapter

“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)

FIB Upcoming Events

 

 

Student Reviews!!!!

List Elm Thank You Letter

AFS National Thank You Letter

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

The Rock 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 Events : 

Check our calendar for more information

Delta Pictures

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