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2.1 Sand Casting PDF
2.1 Sand Casting PDF
Sand casting is defined as pouring of molten metal into a sand mold (molds are generally
provided with a cavity of the shape to be made) and allowing it to solidify inside the mould.
Various patterns are used to create cavity in the molds wherein, pattern can be said as the
replica of the final object to be made with some modifications. Depending on production
quantities, different pattern materials namely wood, aluminum, ferrous metals are used in
practice. These materials are used for low, moderate and high production quantities
respectively. Figure M2.1.1 shows a typical mould arrangement for a sand mold casting.
Pouring cup
Cope
Down sprue
Riser
Cast metal in
cavity
Core Drag
The composition of “sand” refractory is usually a mixture of high purity silica sand, bentonite
clay, organic additives, and water. The cavity is formed by packing the moulding sand around
a pattern by ramming and squeezing. Holes and internal cavities in the casting are produced
by placing an accurate strong component called cores. After the refractory has compacted or
chemically hardened, the mould is opened at the parting line and pattern is removed. The two
halves of the mould are placed together by using a pin called dowel pins. Metal is poured in
to the mould cavity through a previously prepared opening called pouring cup.
Table M2.1.1: Metal commonly used in sand casting (Source: Design for Manufacturability
Handbook by James G Bralla, 2nd Ed)
Complex castings can be produced by the use of sand moulds. For example: Intricate
shapes (under cuts, complex contours), both internal and external can be made in the
above method which is generally difficult to machine for achieving such shape.
The metals those can be melted can be used for casting in this method. Table M2.1.1
shows the list of metal commonly casted in the sand molding process.
Further, casting of any size and weight even as high as 200 Tons can be made in the
above method.
Cast components are usually stable, rigid and strong as compared to products which
are produced in other manufacturing process.
Generally sand mold casted products are somewhat irregular and grainy surfaces and
hence machining is required to get a better surface finish product.
Sand casting processes are used in cylinder blocks, machine tool beds, pistons, water
supply pipes, bells etc.
The following important recommendations are need to be considered while designing the
sand casted products.
Shrinkage: As the molten metal cools and solidifies in the mould, the natural shrinkage
occurs. The dimension of the casted product gets reduced as compared with the mold
cavity. The amount of shrinkage depends upon the type of metal. In order to compensate
the shrinkage allowance for outer dimension, the size of the pattern is made over size
and for inner dimension like hole; the pattern is made under size. It has been observed
that shrinkage happens towards the material side. Table M2.1.2 shows shrinkage of
various metals commonly cast in sand mould.
Table M2.1.2: Shrinkage Allowance for Metals used in Sand Moulds (Source: Design
for Manufacturability Handbook by James G Bralla, 2nd Ed)
Not recommended
Recommended
Draft: For easy removal of pattern from the moulding sand, some degree of taper or
drafts are provided. With the provision of little or no draft, there are chances that the
pattern may damage the mould rather than slipping out smoothly. Various factors
responsible for selecting the proper drafts are: method of moulding and drawing of the
pattern, pattern material, surface smoothness and degree of precision. Table M2.1.3
summarizes the recommended draft angles for outside surface of the sand moulded
casting. Often risers are provided to compensate the shrinkage. Figure M2.1.3
Taper surface
Pattern Pattern
Figure M2.1.3: (a) Pattern withdrawal problem for no draft (b) smooth withdrawal of pattern
from Mould
Table: M2.1.3 Draft angle for outside surface for sand molded casting (Source:
Design for Manufacturability Handbook by James G Bralla, 2nd Ed)
Pattern material
Wood Aluminum Ferrous
Pattern-quality level
Ramming method Normal High Normal High Normal High
Hand 5° 3° 4° 3° - -
Squeezer 3° 2° 3° 2° - -
Automatic - - 2° 1° 1½° ½°
Shell molding 1° ¼°
Cold cure 3° 2° 2° 1° - -
Placement of risers: Risers are generally attached to the heaviest section. Heavier
sections are closer to the riser and the thinnest sections are farthest from the risers due to
faster solidification in thinner section. This minimizes the chances of getting voids.
(Refer Figure M2.1.4.)
Figure M2.1.4: Incorrect and correct designs of castings and riser location
Ribs and webs: In case of heavier sections, rib intersection with the casting wall can
cause hot spot shrinks. The number of intersecting ribs should be minimized to avoid
hot spot shrinks. Whenever it is necessary to bring all the ribs to a single point, a cored
hole would help in faster solidification, thereby avoiding hot spot shrinks. (Figure
M2.1.5. to M2.1.7.)
Not this This
Figure M2.1.6: Reduce the number of reinforcing ribs that intersect at one point
Best
Better
Poor
Figure M2.1.7: Design alternatives to prevent hot-spot voids at rib and casting wall
intersections.
• Corners and angles: Hot spot are most common defect in corners and angles of
casting design. Use rounded corners having same radius for both internal and external
corner. Again too much rounding promote shrink defect in the corner. In particular, in
case of T sections, larger inside radius can be used to minimize stress concentration and
hot spots. Use of dished contours one on each side of the center legs are also affective.
Further, intersection of two walls of the casting should be at right angles to each other if
possible to minimize heat concentration. This feature is clearly shown in Figure M2.1.8
& Figure M2.1.9.
Void
Cold spot
Figure M2.1.9: Avoid sharp-corner and acute angles that cause areas of uneven cooling
Wall thickness: If the metal is flowing for a longer distance in the mould, then the
section should be heavier. But heavier sections also cause problem with voids and
porosity. Keep the wall thickness as uniform as possible (Figure M2.1.10).
Internal porous area
Bad t Good
t
>2t <2t
Bad Good
T L= 4 (T-t)
t
>2t
Figure M2.1.11: Design rules for areas where section thickness must change
Interior wall and sections: These members should be 20% thinner than the outside
members, since they cool more slowly. ( Refer Figure M2.1.12)
Figure M2.1.12: Design for interior walls (20 % thinner than exterior walls)
Lightener holes: To reduce the weight in low stressed area, lightener holes can be
added.
Holes and pockets: The draft on the inside of a pocket must be twice as on the
surrounding outside surface. The depth of hole or pocket should not be more than 1.5
times its narrowest dimension if it is in the drag half of the mould and this depth should
be no more than the narrowest dimension if the hole or pocket is in the cope half of the
mould.(Figure M2.1.13 to M2.1.14)
Figure M2.1.13: Recommended hole drilling after casting (diameter less than 19 mm)
Figure M2.1.14: Extra material around the hole as reinforcement in a highly stressed section.
Bosses and pads Bosses: pads and lugs should be minimized as it creates voids and
hot spots.(Figure M2.1.15)
Figure M2.1.16: Minimize the need for cores as much as possible by eliminating
undercuts.
Gears, pulleys, and wheels: To minimize the stress proper balance between the section sizes
of the rim, spokes and hub must be attempted. It is recommended to have odd number of
spokes with curved in shape. Excessive surface variation is to be avoided.(Figure M2.1.20
to M2.1.21)
Figure M2.1.20: Incorrect and correct proportions of elements of pulleys and gear blanks.
Figure M2.1.21: An odd number of curved wheel spokes to dissipate cast-in stresses.
Lettering and other data: Any lettering should be parallel to the parting plane. These
data need to be placed in such a way that these will not interfere with the machining.
These can be either sunken or raised above the surface.
Weight reduction: Casting weight is minimized by removing the metal from low
stress region and adding to high stress area by the use of simple inexpensive pattern
change.(Figure M2.1.21)
Insert of different metals: It is sometime desirable in casting to incorporate a section
of different material either harder or softer than the base metal depending on the
purpose and is proves to be economical.(Figure M2.1.22)
Aluminum casting
Design to facilitate machining: Sharp corners and edges are avoided by making
sufficiently rounding edges and corners.
Allowance(mm)
Casting size (overall casting length), Drag and sides Cope surface
mm
Gray iron Up to 150 2.3 3
150-300 3 4
300-600 5 6
600-900 6 8
900-1500 8 10
1500-2100 10 13
2100-3000 11 16