Advantages and disadvantages of sand casting

The sand casting process has numerous advantages, especially over investment casting, another popular casting method (to learn more, read our article all about investment casting). This section will briefly explore why sand casting is so widely distributed in industry, as well as where it falls short as a manufacturing method.

The main advantages of using sand casting are listed below:

Sand casting can be used to make virtually any size part from a gun trigger to an engine block – it is not restricted by the desired part size if the right mold is fabricated

Sand casting can create very complex parts if the correct cores/gating systems are used

The process is highly adaptable and can be implemented in the mass production of parts

Almost all types of alloys can be cast, as long as they melt and are pourable

The cost of the equipment is low, as it often involves just sand and reusable patterns

The lead time to make the molds is short, making sand casting ideal for short production runs

Sand casting has a low set-up cost and is cost-effective to modify

The main disadvantages of using sand casting are listed below:

Sand casting creates a high degree of porosity in the metal, causing a low final part strength

The surface finish out of the mold is poor and must be cleaned

The dimensional accuracy of the cast parts is low due to the poor surface finish as well as the shrinkage of the metal once cooled

Sand casting cannot prevent defects, so cleaning is mandatory and can be time-consuming

Sand-casted parts with low tolerances must undergo some secondary machining

So while sand casting may be a cheaper alternative to investment casting and can provide much more complex shapes, it takes a lot more legwork to get the same accuracy, finish, and overall part quality.

Applications of sand casting

It is difficult to grasp how many different technologies use sand casting. Its versatility as a casting process makes it ideal for almost any complex part, and almost every modern technology benefits from this manufacturing process. Below is a list of only a few of the products which are fabricated using the sand casting process, which shows just how varied the possible applications can be.

Sand casting is used to create such products as:

Many kinds of pistons and valves

Blowers/impellers

Cams, bushing, and bearings

Electronic equipment

Gas/oil tanks

Most hardware

Engine blocks

Automobile parts

Screws, nuts, and gears

Agricultural machines

Medical equipment

Mining equipment

and much more.

Sand casting, while nowhere near as precise as investment casting, is a low-cost, low complexity manufacturing process that has repeatedly proven itself as an integral part of modern manufacturing. If investment casting is too cumbersome, or if large parts are needed, consider implementing sand casting into your production line.

Summary   

This article presented a brief overview of the sand casting process. For information on other products, consult our additional guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform to locate potential sources of supply or view details on specific products.