Materials selection and manufacture of a bracket

[PCal]

Hi I'm on to the last question for my HNC and having a nightmare trying to work out my best options! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
The bracket show in figure 1 is to be used to mount an outboard motor onto the transom of a boat.
a. suggest two appropriate materials which will require different methods to manufacture the bracket.
b. Discuss the implications of each of the materials and manufacturing processes you have stated in a on the cost and service life of the bracket.
So I think I should be using aluminium as my first material, and stainless steel as my second. My problem is in choosing a manufacturing process. I think low pressure die casting for the aluminium, and maybe die forging for the stainless steel? I'm really not sure! A push the the right direction would be great!

 

[ChemAir]

Most "manufacturing" of low volume pieces like this starts with already manufactured metal stock, in the form of flat plates, structural parts, billets, rounds, etc.

I would suggest looking at two processes that use available metal parts to make this bracket, rather than building a foundry to make it. There are processes suitable for 316 Stainless that would be unsuitable for 6061 T-6 aluminum.

 

[berkeman]

The bracket show in figure 1 is to be used to mount an outboard motor onto the transom of a boat.
a. suggest two appropriate materials which will require different methods to manufacture the bracket.
b. Discuss the implications of each of the materials and manufacturing processes you have stated in a on the cost and service life of the bracket.

For extra credit, can you suggest a simple addition/modification to that bracket to make it *much* stronger? Maybe compare the costs of a modified bracket with the one you show. You could probably use a thinner stock with the modification I have in mind...