What is the metal casting: Things you need to know

There are so many technological advancements taking place in the field of manufacturing and casting. One of the most prominent amongst them is the cast moulding technology. 

But, do you really know what the procedure is all about?

Metal casting is defined as the process in which molten metal is poured into the mold that includes a hollow cavity of any desired shape. It is then allowed to cool to form a solidified part. The term casting is also used to explain the process of casting which dates back to 600 years. Casting is mostly when you pour some hot liquid in the mould and then you wait for the material to take its shape. It is mostly used to make complex or large parts that are otherwise very difficult or expensive to manufacture in the processes. 

Casting is used to produce various shapes and ingots. An ingot is a simple shape that is intended for producing metal extrusion and forging. Then comes the shape casting process which is formed net shape castings to produce complex geometries that are closer to the final part. 

What are the different types of metal casting?

There are various different types of metal casting for technology transfer procedures. The mould design depends on the basic nature of the expendable mould and permanent mould castings. These are then further subdivided into the groups depending on the various pattern material. These include:

Expendable mould casting 

It is a temporary non-reusable mould to produce the final casting. The mould to produce final casting will be broken to get the casting out. These moulds are made out of materials like sand, ceramics, and plaster. These are then bound together using binders called the bonding agent to improve their properties. 

Permanent mould casting 

This uses a permanent mould that can be reused after each production cycle. The permanent mould casting produces repeatable parts due the re-use of the same mould. It can only produce simple silicon hydrogel moulds as the same one is used. 

Composite mould casting 

These use both expendable and reusable casting moulds to produce castings. The normal raw material includes sand, wood, graphite, and metal. 

How does metal casting work?

The following are some metal casting steps that you need to work on. 

1. Pattern making: This is the replica of the part of the cast made using a suitable material. 
2. Mould making: this is a multi-step process in which patterns and cores are used to create a mould. The manner in which these are made differ depending on the type of metal casting. 
3. Metal melting and pouring: The liquid metal is then poured into the mould cavity, either by gravity or high pressure. The cast is then left to solidify. 

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