Back to Basics: Sand Casting's Range - Sand casting encompasses several different methods that provide unique capabilities, advantages and limitations

摘要

Several metalcasting processes incorporate the use of sand molds in unique ways that make them a good choice for manufacturing some designs and a poor choice for others. Sometimes the processes are referred to by their individual names, but often they are all lumped under the term "sand casting." While the term is technically accurate, the processes' different capabilities warrant a full understanding of each individual method. Sand casting generally is categorized into two types: green sand and chemically-bonded sand. The most common and familiar casting method is green sand molding, which can be performed manually or through the use of semi-automated or fully automated molding equipment. Chemically-bonded sand molding is divided further into three methods - nobake, gas-hardened and heat-activated. The three chemically-bonded methods utilize different ways of catalyzing a chemical binder to produce a hardened sand mold.