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In the sand casting process, sand is molded to form a cavity with the desired shape of the casting. Molten metal is poured into the cavity, holding its shape until the metal solidifies and the mold is removed.

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The cope and drag of the mold are filled with sand with the molded cavity in between them. The sprue, which is connected to the cavity, serves as the passageway for the molten metal to pour through. Any internal features of a casting must be made with a core, which is an additional piece made of sand or metal that is inserted into the mold to allow for specific internal designs.

As each sand casting requires a specific mold, this process is not commonly used when there is a high production volume. That being said, this process is rather flexible, having few limitations when it comes to size and design. The weights of sand castings range from just a few kilograms to 125 tons. There is also a wide range of copper alloys which can be used in the sand casting process, contributing to its overall diverseness.

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The content of this page was curated for the distribution of industry related information from the Forging Industry Association and/or the American Foundry Society in reference to specific metallurgical processes.