Sand casting is one of the most popular and simplest types of casting that has been used for centuries. The sand casting processinvolves the use of a furnace, metal, pattern, and sand mould. A sand mould pattern of the desired shape is first made. The molten metal from the furnace isladled and poured into the cavity of this sand mould, and then allowed to cool.
Compared with other casting methods, sand casting is ideal for large-part production. This method offers engineers a variety of metal alloy options and part size options at an affordable manufacturing price. Additionally, sand casting has a low setup cost and is inexpensive to make mold modifications. This is the preferred casting method of the aerospace industry, and others such as construction, automotive, manufacturing, and even railway industries use sand casting.
The sand cast molding process includes several steps. The sand casting process starts with the creation of a mold pattern and a gate system. Each pattern requires a new mold designed to the exact size and shape of the intended part.
Molding : The resin sand will be mixed by the sand treatment equipment, then shoot into the sand boxes (flasks). The molding workers will guarantee the sand can be filled to all positions, and make the sand as solid as possible.
Pouring :The pouring can be performed manually or by an automated machine. Enough molten metal must be poured to fill the entire cavity and all channels in the mold. The filling time is very short in order to prevent early solidification of any one part of the metal.
CoreMaking : If a casting is hollow, an additional piece of sand or metal (called a core) shapes the internal form to make it hollow. Cores are typically strong yet collapsible so they can be easily removed from the finished casting.
Melting and Pouring Molten Metal : After metal is melted, it is poured into the cavity of the mold and left to solidify. Once solidified, the shakeout process begins: the molds undergo vibration to remove sand from the casting.
Knockout : Knockout is an important segment of casting process. After the cooling of casting, it is removed from the mold by using the process of knockout. Thetemperature also falls gradually during this entire process.
Fettling : Fettling involves the removal of the risers and any excess material while linishing involves grinding or sanding the component to improve the surface flatness. These techniques can be carried out using manual cutting, grinding or automated tools.