October 12, 2021

What You Probably Didn’t Know About Metal Castings

More than 90% of all manufactured goods and machines use castings in their building process. The term “casting” has been around since before factories existed but has become an industry term world-wide.

Casting is a process that involves pouring a hot liquid material into a hollow cavity of a desired shape. This shape is oftentimes one that would be difficult or uneconomical to manufacture using any other method. Once the liquid cools, it solidifies into the shape that the outer shell, or casting, mimics.

Even if you have not heard of castings, it does not mean you haven’t stumbled across a few in your travels. Do you remember those “Mold-A-Rama” machines at the Museum? You can put in $2 and get a plastic molding back of your favorite exhibit. That is a plastic casting!

mold-a-rama

Source

Artists use the casting method to make sculptures. It is also used to make jewelry, weapons, toys, tools and auto parts.

Sand castings are used in everyday vehicles to make cylinder heads and engine blocks. Metal castings are found in military vehicles like tanks, trucks, and aircraft engines.

Metal Castings Are Everywhere

So they need to be made in bulk and they need to be done right. Most of the defects take place during the solidifying process. If the casting is not cooled properly, the material becomes compromised and will either need repair or will no longer be of use.

There are 2 types of modern day metal castings in manufacturing:

Expendable
Non-expendable

From here the castings are determined by material, be it sand, plaster, metal, etc. The last variation of the casting is determined by the pouring method: gravity, low-pressure or vacuum.