Product introduction
The anchor windlass chain gypsy (wildcat) body is the torque-transmitting heart of any anchor handling system, and a single mismatched chain pocket can jam the ride or slip under load. Ningbo Ruican casts these bodies in GS-52 cast steel (or ASTM A148 equivalent) using 17 years of silica sol and water glass lost wax investment casting plus sand casting experience, followed by full CNC machining of the shaft bore and pocket profiles. Whether your spec calls for hardened steel for abrasive chain duty or a nickel aluminium bronze (CuAl10Ni5Fe4) wear-ring upgrade for saltwater corrosion resistance, we deliver gypsy bodies that drop straight into anchor windlass and mooring winch systems on workboats, tugs and fishing vessels.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Casting Weight Range | 8 kg – 350 kg per gypsy body (sand cast up to 2,000 kg) |
| Casting Tolerance | ISO 8062 CT4–CT6 (silica sol process); CT7–CT9 (water glass process) |
| Machining Capability | Full 3/4/5-axis CNC turning, milling, boring and keyway broaching; shaft bore to IT7 |
| Hardness (as required) | Brake-band seat locally hardened; body typically 190–240 HBW (grade dependent) |
| Surface Finish | Ra 1.6 µm machined faces; Ra 6.3 µm as-cast pocket faces |
| MOQ | 1 piece for samples; 10 pcs production |
| Inspection | Dimensional FAI report, hardness, chemical analysis and tensile per heat lot |
| Lead Time | 4–6 weeks sample (cast + machined); 6–9 weeks production |
Key features
- Precision-formed chain pockets — lost wax casting reproduces pocket geometry to match stud-link chain standards, minimizing chain jump, slap and uneven wear.
- Machined shaft bore — CNC-turned and bored to IT7-class tolerances with finished keyway and locking features for press or hydraulic fitment on the windlass main shaft.
- Hardened brake-band seat — brake-band seat machined and locally hardened to resist scoring and heat checking from repeated dynamic braking cycles.
- Nickel aluminium bronze wear-ring option — CuAl10Ni5Fe4 (NiAl bronze) insert or full-body option delivers outstanding seawater cavitation and galling resistance where chain speed and wet operation dominate.
- Corrosion-resistant marine finish — shot-blasted, primed and finished for salt-spray exposure; optional duplex coating systems for extended offshore service.
- Casting-to-machining traceability — every gypsy body is cast and finish-machined under one roof with serialized heat-lot traceability.
Applications
- Anchor windlasses on harbor tugs, ASD tugs and escort tugs requiring class-compliant wildcat engagement with stud-link chain.
- Mooring winches and combination anchor/mooring windlass units on offshore supply vessels and platform support craft.
- Fishing vessel deck machinery — net haulers and trawl winch chain drives on trawlers and seiners.
- Workboat and barge positioning winches where repeated dynamic braking demands a hardened brake-band seat.
- Retrofit and spare-parts programs for shipyards and windlass OEMs needing drop-in replacement gypsy bodies cast from samples or worn originals.
Materials and heat treatment
| Material | Standard | Condition | Application Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast Steel GS-52 | DIN 1683 / DIN EN 10293 | Normalized + tempered | High-toughness structural grade for windlass and mooring winch gypsy bodies under shock loading |
| Cast Steel (ASTM A148 equivalent) | ASTM A148 Grade 620-415 | Normalized + tempered | Direct U.S.-spec substitute for GS-52; suitable for class-approved anchor handling gear |
| Nickel Aluminium Bronze CuAl10Ni5Fe4 | EN 1982 / UNS C63000 family | As-cast or solution treated | Wear-ring and full-body option; superior seawater corrosion, cavitation and galling resistance |
| Duplex Stainless (optional) | ASTM A890 Gr 4A | Solution annealed | For weight-critical or low-magnetic-signature applications on specialist vessels |
Quality and compliance
- IATF 16949 certified quality management — casting and machining processes are audited to automotive-grade discipline, applied to every marine order.
- Process selection: silica sol lost wax investment casting is specified for tight-tolerance chain pocket geometry and superior as-cast surface; water glass lost wax is offered as a cost-effective route for larger or simpler gypsy bodies; sand casting covers heavy wildcats above the investment casting envelope.
- EN 10204 3.1 material certificates — chemical composition, mechanical properties and heat-treatment condition certified per heat lot, suitable for class-society review.
- FAI (First Article Inspection) — full dimensional report on the first production casting, with balloon-marked drawings and CMM data.
- Third-party inspection — SGS, BV, TÜV, ABS, DNV, LR or customer-nominated inspection welcomed before shipment.
Why Ningbo Ruican
- 17 years of casting expertise — silica sol and water glass investment casting plus sand casting under one roof since 2008.
- One-stop casting + CNC machining — cast, heat treat, machine, coat and inspect in a single controlled supply chain; no subcontractor gaps.
- OEM/ODM from drawings or samples — reverse-engineer worn gypsy bodies, or cast to your 2D/3D data with DFM feedback in 48 hours.
- IATF 16949 certified — the same process rigor demanded by automotive customers protects every marine and industrial order.
FAQ
Which material should I specify for a saltwater anchor windlass gypsy?
GS-52 cast steel (ASTM A148 620-415 equivalent) covers most windlass and mooring winch duties. Where chain speed, wet operation and cavitation dominate, we supply the gypsy in CuAl10Ni5Fe4 nickel aluminium bronze as a wear-ring insert or as a full bronze body; duplex stainless ASTM A890 Gr 4A is available for weight-critical or low-magnetic-signature vessels.
Can the chain pockets be cast to suit my stud-link chain?
Yes. Lost wax casting reproduces the pocket geometry to the chain standard you nominate, holding ISO 8062 CT4–CT6 on the pockets in the silica sol process (CT7–CT9 in water glass), so pocket pitch and flank form stay consistent from part to part.
Do you machine the shaft bore and keyway?
Yes. The shaft bore is CNC turned and bored to IT7 with the keyway broached in-house, and the brake-band seat is machined and locally hardened. Machined faces are held to Ra 1.6 µm, as-cast pocket faces to Ra 6.3 µm.
What is the MOQ and lead time?
MOQ is 1 piece for samples and 10 pcs for production. Samples take 4-6 weeks cast and machined, production runs 6-9 weeks. Each shipment carries a dimensional FAI report, hardness, chemical analysis and tensile results per heat lot.
CTA
Send your drawings to Wendy She at sales@cnsandcasting.com or WhatsApp +86 137 7712 4360 — include material grade, annual volume and target tolerance for a same-week quotation from Ningbo Ruican.
