Casting (metalworking)
Casting iron in a sand mold
In metalworking, casting involves pouring a
liquid metal into a mold, which contains a
hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then
is allowed to solidify. The solidified part is
also known as a casting, which is ejected or
broken out of the mold to complete the pro-
cess. Casting is most often used for making
complex shapes that would be otherwise diffi-
cult or uneconomical to make by other meth-
ods.[1]
The casting process is subdivided into two
main categories: expendable and non-ex-
pendable casting. It is further broken down
by the mold material, such as sand or metal,
and pouring method, such as gravity, vacu-
um, or low pressure.[2]
Terminology
The casting process uses the following spe-
cialized terminology:[3]
• Pattern: An approximate duplicate of the
final casting used to form the mold cavity.
Casting may be used to create artistic
sculptures
• Molding material: The material that is
packed around the pattern and then the
pattern is removed to leave the cavity
where the casting material will be poured.
• Flask: The rigid wood or metal frame that
holds the molding material.
• Cope: The top half of the pattern, flask,
mold, or core.
• Drag: The bottom half of the pattern,
flask, mold, or core.
• Core: An insert in the mold that produces
internal features in the casting, such as
holes.
• Core print: The region added to the
pattern, core, or mold used to locate
and support the core.
• Mold cavity: The combined open area of
the molding material and core, there the
metal is poured to produce the casting.
• Riser: An extra void in the mold that fills
with molten material to compensate for
shrinkage during solidification.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Casting (metalworking)
1
• Gating system: The network of connected
channels that deliver the molten material
to the mold cavities.
• Pouring cup or pouring basin: The part
of the gating system that receives the
molten material from the pouring
vessel.
• Sprue: The pouring cup attaches to the
sprue, which