Various Types of Castings That Help Manufacturers

Casting is a common term associated with industries. It is a manufacturing process that involves pouring molten metal into a specially designed cavity (or mold). The molten metal is then left to solidify. Solidification of the molten metal obtains a workpiece that has to undergo several finishing steps to produce a final product. Casting is a typical method of producing several intricate solid and hollow shapes or products to be used in a wide range of applications. The products may be aerospace parts, automotive components and a variety of other products to be used in several industries.

Casting processes are of different types and hence they have different manufacturing techniques. Recent advancements in casting technology have allowed several specialized casting methods like sand casting, investment casting, die-casting and others. All these methods have their own advantages. Companies can consider these advantages to use the most suited methods for a successful casting production run.

Sand casting

It involves silica based materials which can include synthetic or naturally bonded sand. The process requires finally ground, spherical grains which are packed hardly into a smooth molding surface. The sand grains are strengthened in the process with the addition of some clay. Addition of clay allows particles to bind particles more closely. Engine blocks and automotive products are commonly manufactured with the process. It can allow high-production and low cost method, but accuracy rate is a little low.

Metal/die casting

This is the method of molding materials under high pressure conditions. the most commonly used materials for the process are non-ferrous metals and allows such as tin, zinc, aluminum, and copper. The mold here is reusable which can be coated with a lubricant to regulate the die temperature and allow easy component ejection. Metals are used in molten state and injected into the die under high-pressure continuously and rapidly until the solidification of workpiece. The component is taken out after the completion of the process and any excess metal is removed. While it requires low post-production efforts, the overall cost of die casting is higher.

Investment casting

Wax casting, the process requires injecting molten wax directly into a mold, and then coated with refractory material and a binding agent. It is actually a several stage process. After the hardening of shells, wax is heated in the oven and removed. Then molten metal is poured into the empty shell in the place of wax.

Various industries offer casting production and chemical lab facilities to industries to help them meet their production demands.

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Ainsleyaikens Joined: March 28th, 2020