Benefits Of Using Sand Casting

Nearly Any Alloy

  Sand castings can be readily produced in nearly any ferrous or non-ferrous alloy.  Some other casting processes will melt and pour super-alloys in a vacuum, but that is not typically done as a sand casting. Some materials cannot be “worked”, and must be produced as a casting.

Low Tooling Cost

  The relatively low cost of tooling makes sand casting a process of choice for lower volume needs. Patterns do wear so the material selected for the pattern (typically wood, plastic, or metal) will depend on the expected usage quantity of the part being produced. Though not necessarily cheaper in the short run, the use of machined (or “patternless”) molds may be a cost-effective option for components with expected lower usage over a longer period of time.

Versatile – Size, Weight, Shape

  Sand castings can be produced in weights from ounces to 200+ tons.Through the use of cores, internal structures can be cast in place.Shaped parts rely mainly on the imagination of the designer.  Most sand castings, however, will need at least some machined surfaces, either because of innate tolerance limits of the process, or the need to mate with other components.

Any Quantity

  Because the tooling cost can be minimal, sand casting may be appropriate for a single piece run. Alternatively, there are automotive components that are produced using this process, so it may also be used in high volume applications.  Other elements of design and tolerance are often more important than quantity when selecting this as the preferred casting process。

Timing

The casting process itself may be quicker than some others, but it is important to consider the post-casting processes like machining that may be required when computing total lead times.