Aluminum sand castings
Sand castings are produced in expendable molds made of molding sand – quartz sand with a binder. It is the most flexible casting method: low pattern cost and great freedom of shape make it well suited to prototypes, short runs, large castings and parts with complex internal geometry.
Sand casting parameters at our foundry
| Material | aluminum alloys per PN-EN 1706 |
|---|---|
| Casting weight | from 1 to 100 kg |
| Molding flasks | with dimensions up to 1000 mm |
| Molding sands | self-hardening and heat-hardening; automatic dosing and compaction |
| Molds | split molds on reusable patterns (series production) or unsplit molds on expendable patterns |
| Documentation | simplified process documentation: the part's design drawing and technical conditions for manufacture and acceptance |
Advantages of Sand Castings
- a pattern that is inexpensive and quick to make – and easy to modify when the design changes,
- ability to cast large and heavy parts,
- complex internal shapes thanks to cores,
- heat treatment possible, e.g. to T6 condition.
Limitations
- rougher surface and wider dimensional tolerances than in permanent mold or high-pressure die casting,
- larger machining allowances on functional surfaces,
- slower cycle – in very large production runs the cost per part is higher than with permanent molds.
The quality of a sand casting depends largely on the molding sand and its compaction – which is why our molding shop has a modern sand mixing system as well as automatic dosing and compaction.
When to Choose Sand Casting
Sand casting is a good choice when you need a prototype or a short run, the casting is large or heavy, it has a complex internal geometry, or the design may still change. As volumes grow, the same part can later be moved to a permanent mold. We compared the two methods in the article sand casting or permanent mold casting.
In short: we produce aluminum sand castings weighing 1 to 100 kg, in flasks up to 1000 mm, using self-hardening and heat-hardening (hot-box) sands. It is the best method for prototypes, short runs, large castings and complex shapes.
See also: sand casting – our offer, aluminum sand casting step by step i sand casting – technology secrets.
Do you need aluminum sand 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.