Custom aluminum castings can be produced through a sandcasting process that utilizes olivine sand as the molding medium. After the sand is rammed around the pattern, the mold is separated, the pattern removed and the mold is then closed. Molten aluminum is poured into the mold cavity. The aluminum solidifies and the casting is removed. Fins, burrs and parting lines are removed by belting/grinding or tooling.

Industrial Applications:

• machine tools
• scientific products
• conveyors
• railroads
• food processing equipment
• pumps
• decorative items

Prototypes and production runs on castings up to 120 lbs. are made.

The modern casting shop provides engineering and design assistance on components and patterns. Among the features of the process are metals of differing alloys, filtration of metal through fiberglass or mica screens during pouring, and cleanup of castings.

Alloys Used:

• Almag 35
• Tenzalloy
• Alloys 319, 355, 356
• Precedent 771
• Alloy A-206T71
• Alloy 443

Tensile strengths, depending on the alloy, vary from 24,000 to 54,000 psi and yield strengths to 45,000 psi.

The advantages of aluminum alloy sand castings include:

• less expensive pattern tooling
• unlimited shapes
• lightweight--high strength properties
• low machining cost
• consolidation of fabrications into castings
• wide range of physical properties and surface treatments