Product category:
Metals foundry, materials and equipment
News Release from: Norse Precision Castings | Subject: Sand casting
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 September 2002
Remember sand casting for one-offs
Aluminium casting techniques at Norse Precision Castings can achieve tolerances of 0.4mm and wall thickness of 3mm, and sizes approaching one metre cube
Sand casting is an art as old as technology itself, but the accuracy of modern day sand casting ranks it alongside the best metal forming techniques available, both cost and styling benefits suggest designers should give it serious consideration for anything less than high volume production Aluminium casting techniques at Norse Precision Castings can achieve tolerances of + 0.4mm and wall thickness of 3mm, and sizes approaching one metre cube
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 6 Dec 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Similarities of manufacture in gravity sand casting and moulding rigid polyurethane, gives a foundry the versatility to work in plastics and metals.
Sand casting provides economic design variants
Experience in mould design, particularly the feeders and the fluidity of aluminium, enables tolerances of +0.4mm and wall thickness of 3mm to be achieved in aluminium sand castings.
The almost infinite versatility of shape allows the designer unbounded freedom of style and functional shape.
Whilst pattern making is critical, sand technology also plays a key role.
In larger structures up to eight or ten complex cores are carefully pieced together for the final mould.
A significant advantage of this is that product variations can be economically accommodated as frequently only one or two pieces need to be changed.
The adhesive provides some degree of strength to the sand but a high degree of cleanliness and care on the shop floor is needed to produce accurate repeatability and a consistently high quality of finish.
Experience in mould design, particularly the feeders and the excellent fluidity of aluminium, enables cavities and strengthening ribs, even logos, to be incorporated.
Good machinability post casting then allows the finished part even tighter tolerances, with tapped holes, machined flats and slots.
With the absence of high tooling costs, sand casting equates well to one-offs and low volume production although runs of several thousands of casting are well within capability at Norse Precision Castings in Bedford.
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