--- title: "Behind the Part: The Design Department" description: Discover how K&H Precision Products' Design Department transforms CAD models into castable parts, ensuring efficient production and reduced scrap through advanced simulations. image: https://info.kandhprecision.com/hubfs/Design1.png --- [Skip to content](https://info.kandhprecision.com/blog/behind-the-part-the-design-department#main-content) [![K&H Logo](https://info.kandhprecision.com/hs-fs/hubfs/K%26H_Logo%20(1).png?width=400&height=250&name=K%26H_Logo%20(1).png)Homepage](https://kandhprecision.com/) - [Home](https://kandhprecision.com/) - [About](https://kandhprecision.com/about/) - [Services](https://kandhprecision.com/services/) - [Gallery](https://kandhprecision.com/gallery/) - [Technical Specs](https://kandhprecision.com/technical-specs/) - [Testimonials](https://kandhprecision.com/testimonials/) - [Blog](https://info.kandhprecision.com/blog/) [Contact Us](https://kandhprecision.com/contact/) - [Home](https://kandhprecision.com/) - [About](https://kandhprecision.com/about/) - [Services](https://kandhprecision.com/services/) - [Gallery](https://kandhprecision.com/gallery/) - [Technical Specs](https://kandhprecision.com/technical-specs/) - [Testimonials](https://kandhprecision.com/testimonials/) - [Blog](https://info.kandhprecision.com/blog/) [Contact Us](https://kandhprecision.com/contact/) ![K&H Design Department](https://info.kandhprecision.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Design1.png?width=735&height=615&name=Design1.png) # Behind the Part: The Design Department ![Colin Hogarth](https://info.kandhprecision.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Colin%20Hogarth.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=Colin%20Hogarth.jpg) Colin Hogarth October 8, 2026 > *Summary* > > >  *The Design Department at K&H Precision Products, led by Mike Yates, transforms customer CAD models into production-ready as-cast geometries by evaluating key manufacturing factors like draft angles, parting lines, and wall thicknesses. Using solidification simulation software, the team models molten metal flow and turbulence to identify and resolve potential defects digitally before production begins. This proactive validation eliminates traditional foundry trial-and-error, significantly reducing scrap rates and accelerating project timelines for customers. By designing with the full manufacturing lifecycle in mind, K&H ensures a seamless transition from digital files to physical tooling, casting, and final finished components.* ## **Good Castings Start Long Before Metal Is Poured** When a customer sends K&H Precision Products a model of a finished part, it may look exactly the way they need it to look. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ready to be cast. That’s where our Design Department comes in. Led by Mike Yates, Design plays an important role in new casting projects from the very beginning. Mike is often involved during initial project discussions, either directly with the customer or behind the scenes reviewing files and providing recommendations to the K&H team. Once the project moves forward, the real design work begins. ## **Turning a Final-Part Design Into a Castable Part** Customers typically provide K&H with a model of the finished component they need. Mike then uses that model to develop what we call the as-cast geometry, essentially determining what the part needs to look like when it comes out of the mold so that it can ultimately become the finished component the customer specified. That requires much more than simply modifying a CAD file. The design team evaluates factors such as parting lines, draft angles, wall thicknesses and other features that affect whether the component can be successfully cast. For the customer, this is an important step. Potential manufacturing challenges are being considered before tooling is created and before metal is ever poured. ## **Using Simulation Before Production** Once the as-cast geometry is established, the team begins developing the gating system, the pathways that will ultimately control how molten metal travels into and through the mold to fill the cavity. Experience plays an important role here. Mike and team brings decades of casting knowledge to the initial gating design. From there, Aaron Frohm works with Mike to run the design through solidification simulation software. The software allows the team to evaluate how the metal is expected to flow, identify areas of turbulence and look for potential trouble spots before moving forward. Historically, much of that learning happened physically in the foundry: pour a casting, break it out, inspect it, cut it apart if necessary, make adjustments and try again. Simulation allows much of that problem-solving to happen before a casting is ever poured. *Why does that matter to the customer?* Because finding and correcting potential issues in the design stage can help reduce unnecessary scrap, shorten development time and avoid costly changes farther downstream. ## **Design With the Entire Process in Mind** K&H’s Design Department isn’t working in isolation. Every decision made here considers what comes next, from the Pattern Shop and Foundry to machining, quality control and ultimately the finished component. When the design and gating are ready, Mike releases the files to the Pattern Shop, where the digital work begins becoming physical tooling. And that handoff is exactly the point. At K&H, good casting design isn’t simply about creating a model that looks right on a screen. It’s about designing a part that can successfully make the journey from CAD file to casting to the finished component the customer needs. --- ### **Frequently Asked Questions:** **Q: What is the role of the design department at K&H Precision Products?** **A:** The Design Department translates customer-provided final-part CAD models into production-ready as-cast geometries. Led by Mike Yates, the team evaluates component manufacturability, designs gating systems, and validates casting performance prior to physical tooling and foundry pouring. **Q: What is the difference between a final-part design and an as-cast geometry?** **A:** A final-part design represents the customer's finished component specification, whereas an as-cast geometry represents the part's required shape when it initially exits the mold. As-cast geometry accounts for draft angles, parting lines, cooling shrinkage, and necessary stock allowances for post-cast machining. **Q: How does K&H Precision Products use solidifaction simulation software?** **A:** K&H uses solidification simulation software—operated by Aaron Frohm in conjunction with Mike Yates—to map how molten metal travels through the gating system into the mold cavity. The software predicts liquid metal flow patterns, pinpoints areas of turbulence, and highlights potential thermal or structural trouble spots digitally. **Q: What are the main benefits of casting simulation for customers?** **A:** Casting simulation provides three key advantages: - Cost Savings: Detects and fixes design defects before expensive physical tooling is cut. - Scrap Reduction: Eliminates hidden internal defects before full-scale foundry production. - Faster Turnaround: Replaces physical foundry trial-and-error (pouring, breaking out, and sectioning parts) with rapid digital validation. **Q: What process follows casting design approval at K&H?** **A:** Once the as-cast geometry and gating system are digitally validated, the Design Department releases the file package to K&H’s Pattern Shop. The Pattern Shop transforms the digital CAD data into physical tooling used by the foundry to pour the component. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Finfo.kandhprecision.com%2Fblog%2Fbehind-the-part-the-design-department](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Finfo.kandhprecision.com%2Fblog%2Fbehind-the-part-the-design-department) ## Keep reading ### [![Manufacturing Works Better When the People Making Your Part Know Your Part](https://info.kandhprecision.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CC1.jpg?width=1512&height=2016&name=CC1.jpg) Behind the Part: Meet the Team Behind Your Part](https://info.kandhprecision.com/blog/behind-the-part-meet-the-team-behind-your-part) ### [![Foundry Sand Casting](https://info.kandhprecision.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foundry%20Arial1-1.jpg?width=4032&height=3024&name=Foundry%20Arial1-1.jpg) What Makes a Good Sand Casting Design, and Why Does It Matter to You?](https://info.kandhprecision.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-sand-casting-design-and-why-does-it-matter-to-you) [![K&H Logo](https://info.kandhprecision.com/hs-fs/hubfs/K%26H_Logo%20(1).png?width=400&height=250&name=K%26H_Logo%20(1).png "K&H Logo")](https://kandhprecision.com/) - [Home](https://kandhprecision.com/) - [About](https://kandhprecision.com/about/) - [Services](https://kandhprecision.com/services/) - [Gallery](https://kandhprecision.com/gallery/) - [Technical Specs](https://kandhprecision.com/technical-specs/) - [Testimonials](https://kandhprecision.com/testimonials/) - [Blog](https://info.kandhprecision.com/blog/) --- [Privacy Policy](https://kandhprecision.com/privacy-policy/) · Legal · © 2026. 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