Casting
Foundry technology is the field of engineering concerned with producing parts by pouring liquid metal into a mold, where it solidifies and takes on the mold's shape. It is one of the oldest metalworking technologies and, at the same time, a modern branch of industry that makes use of computer simulation, automation and CNC machining.
Basic foundry terms
| Term | Significance |
|---|---|
| the casting | a product formed after metal solidifies in a mold |
| casting mold | a tool with a cavity in the shape of the casting – expendable (e.g., sand) or permanent (permanent mold, die casting die) |
| foundry pattern | a replica of the casting shape that forms the cavity in the molding material |
| core and core box | the core forms the holes and internal cavities of the casting; the core box is the mold in which it is made |
| molding sand | sand with a binder, used to make molds and cores |
| gating system | channels that deliver molten metal to the mold cavity |
| riser | a reserve of metal that feeds the casting during solidification and prevents shrinkage cavities |
| casting shrinkage | the reduction in the dimensions of the metal during solidification and cooling |
| machining allowance | a layer of material left on surfaces that will be machined |
| shakeout and finishing | removing the casting from the mold, cutting off the gating system, cleaning and grinding |
Casting methods
Methods are classified by the type of mold and the way it is filled. The most common are sand casting, gravity casting into metal molds (permanent mold casting), high-pressure and low-pressure die casting, and investment casting using the lost-wax process. The choice depends on the material, batch size, shape, required accuracy and tooling cost.
Casting production stages
- drawing analysis and process selection,
- making the pattern, core boxes or permanent mold,
- preparing the mold and cores,
- melting the metal, cleaning it and controlling its temperature,
- pouring the mold and solidification,
- shakeout, removal of the gating system and finishing,
- machining, heat treatment or surface treatment,
- quality control and acceptance.
Aluminum casting at our foundry
We specialize in aluminum casting. The company's history begins with foundry patternmaking – the Brukwicki family has been making patterns since 1950, and in 1961 Bogdan Brukwicki earned his master's diploma in the trade. Adjatech was founded in 2012, and in 2022 came Adjatech Metalworking, a company that casts aluminum alloys only. Today we produce permanent mold, sand and die castings, together with patterns, molds, CNC machining and powder coating.
In short: foundry work is the production of parts from molten metal poured into a mold. The key terms are casting, mold, pattern, core, gating system, riser and shrinkage, and the most common methods are sand casting, permanent mold casting and die casting.
See also: casting molds, casting technologies, aluminum casting alloys i company history.
Need aluminum castings? Send a drawing or 3D model to odlewnia@adjatech.pl or call: +48 61 662 43 37 (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).
Scope of services: foundry production capabilities.