What is Cast Tool & Jig Plate?

Aluminum jig plate, cast tool and jig plate, CT&J, cast plate, and cast tooling plate are all names by which end customers refer the various proprietary product lines of aluminum cast plate products. Since each producing mill has their own unique product line, it can be difficult to choose the best product for the application.  How do you know which product is the right fit for you?  Trust the aluminum experts at Howard Precision Metals.  With over 90 years in the metals industry and a 100% aluminum distributor, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you make an informed decision.

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With so many options for aluminum cast tool and jig plate, how do you know you are choosing the right one? Howard Precision Metals is here to help. Read our blog for answers to the most common CT&J questions.

How Many Cast Tool & Jig Plates Are There?

Every aluminum plate mill has their own cast plate product and each one of them claims to have the best jig plate available.  First, Arconic, formerly known as Alcoa, produces MIC 6® cast tool and jig plate.  Then, PCP (Precision Cast Plate) in Canada produces Alca 5® precision cast plate.  Located in California, Alpase produces K-100S® cast aluminum tooling plate.  Next, Bikar, located in Germany, produces Formodal® which they call “precision milled cast plates.”  Finally, Vista Metals produces ATP-5 precision tooling plate.  Other than the name and producing mill, there are more similarities in these products than there are differences.  Each of these cast tool and jig plate aluminum products are manufactured in similar ways to reduce internal stresses of the aluminium plates.  Each of these CT&J products have significant internal stability, which helps minimize movement during the machining process. These cast plate products are all machined with a flat surface finish, on both the top and bottom, of 32 micro-inches or better.  Every mill coats the top and bottom with PVC to ensure the finish is protected in transit to the distributor.  With so many cast aluminum products available on the market, it makes it very difficult to find the right fit.

Premium Cast Aluminum Jig Plate Options

With so many seemingly similar cast plate options available, it can be difficult for distributors to decide what to stock.  Not at Howard Precision Metals.  It was a simple task.  We decided to offer the best two products:  Mic-6® and Alca 5™.  With proper aluminum sawing and machining methods applied, highly precise tolerances in the thousandths can be achieved.  Both products, which are sometimes referred to as CT&J Plate, are ground to thickness tolerances of ±.005” and coated with PVC on both sides to protect the surface finish.  Each is an optimal choice when flatness and tight dimensional control is required.  Weighing about one third as much as steel plate, CT and J plate also minimizes the need for heavy equipment for setup and installation.  Not to mention, the load imposed on screws and ways is minimized.  You might think that this is just another opinion.  But, rest assured, we tried them all.  No other cast tool and jig plates performed as consistently as the two that call our shelves home.  Let our experiences be used to your advantage.

Arconic’s Mic 6® Cast Aluminum Plate

For over 30 years, Howard Precision Metals has maintained a very close relationship with the makers of MIC 6®.  As the first cast tool and jig plate product available, Mic-6® took the market by surprise.  With “the most advanced process used in the cast plate industry”, this CT&J is still the standard by which all other mills rank their cast aluminum products.  After more than 50 years of production, Arconic still produces the flattest and most stable product available.  On every single plate of MIC 6 CT&J sold, Arconic aims to exceed the flatness tolerances published for their product line.  In fact, they inspect each plate individually to ensure consistent products are being delivered to their customers.  Because this product is produced from aerospace scrap, there is no actual chemistry.  Therefore, there are no actual chemical certs available.  Despite having no chemical certifications, this product is incredibly stable and virtually all machining distortion is eliminated.  The one drawback of Mic 6® is that the product does not offer a consistent anodize response. The anodize response is the reason Howard Precision Metals offers another cast plate option.

The Cast Tool & Jig Plate with Chemistry:  Alca-5™ 

In 2006, PCP began production of Alca5™ cast aluminium plates.  The ingots used to produce these CT&J plates are certified, prime, 5083 alloy with chemistry.  This careful control of the product results in a cast plate that offers an incredible anodize response.  Alca5™ is also a great alternative to MIC 6 plate when considering weight.  With a density of about 5% less than MIC 6, Alca 5™ offers a slight advantage in purchased weight.  Over the years, PCP has continually invested in advancements in the production of their product.  Currently, the maximum plate width of ALCA5™ that can be produced is 98” and to a maximum length of 289”.  Compared to the maximum 60.5” width of Mic-6®, PCP has another clear advantage in their ability to offer extremely large cast tool and jig plate options.  PCP’s Alca5 consistent performance and continual product improvement are why we at Howard Precision Metals are so proud to offer this to our customers.

Custom Sizes Available

In addition to producing phenomenal cast plate options, both of our mills assist us in supporting the needs of our customers in other ways.  The most common way to achieve this is to offer custom plate sizes.  Because each of the aluminum products is produced by different methods and by different mills, the rules are not the same for either product.  First, Arconic will produce custom Mic 6® sizes to any custom thickness between .25” and 4.0”, any custom width between 36.5” and 60.5”, and any custom length between 75” and 150”.  The only additional requirements are a 2,000-pound minimum purchase and a production lead time of approximately 3-4 weeks.  Next, PCP also offers custom plate sizes of Alca5™ plates.  PCP has no minimum purchase requirement; as few as one piece may be ordered.  Lead time is variable and generally within 2 weeks.  Finally, the sizes of customs are much more inclusive.  The thickness range for ALCA 5 is .236” to 4.0”.  Custom widths can be produced no greater than 96”.  While custom lengths can be produced up to 289”.  There are no minimum width or length requirements with Alca5™.  Ordering custom sized cast tool and jig plates is one of many ways the team at Howard Precision Metals takes care of our customers.

Contact Us Today

Howard Precision Metals stock both PCP’s Alca 5® and Arconic’s MIC 6® cast tool and jig plates.  At Howard Precision Metals, we offer only the best aluminum plate and extrusion products. With over 90 years in the industry and more saws under one roof than any other distributor in the Midwest, HPM has the aluminum products, sawing services, and knowledge necessary to service customers.  Our customers service a wide range of industries, including: paper and packaging machinery parts, aerospace & aircraft components, pneumatic manifolds, hydraulic cylinders and tool & die manufacturing.  To speak with one of our aluminum experts, call us today at 800.444.0111 or request a free quote through our website.