Metal casting is a process that involves melting metal, pouring it into a mould and removing the casting after the metal has solidified. Metal casting is one of the oldest branches of metallurgy. Moulding is one of the final steps in the metalworking process.
The casting process is determined by:
• the metal used (ferrous and non-ferrous alloys)
• the castingmethod (mould casting, pressure casting, centrifugal casting)
• the size of the cast products
• the production method (individual and mass casting)
After World War I, the metal casting industry made tremendous progress. By improving the quality of cast products and with the development of new technologies, cast products have become one of the most common engineering materials used.
The advantages of casting:
• It allows us to create complex shapes by using external or internal cavities, eliminating the need for forging, welding ...
• Many metals and alloys can only be shaped by moulding them (this cannot be achieved otherwise).
• Mechanical structures are simplified. Parts can be moulded as one part, allowing complex multi-piece assemblies to be simplified to fewer components.
• It allows us to mass-produce objects.
• It allows us to mould large, heavy objects that would be impossible to create otherwise.
• Cast products have specific properties (strength and lightness, heat transfer and friction characteristics...).
• A cost-effective solution compared to other metal working methods.
The above text was taken from: Ciril Pelhan - Livarstvo (1971)