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Sand casting requires a lead time of a few days for production at high output rates (1-20 pieces / hour /mould), and is unsurpassed for large-part production. Green (moist) sand has almost no part weight limit, whereas dry sand has a practical part mass limit of 2300-2700 kg. Minimum part weight ranges from 0.075 - 0.1 kg. The sand is bonded together using clays (as in green sand) or chemical binders, or polymerized oils. Sand in most operations can be recycled many times and requires little additional input. Preparation of the sand mould is fast and requires a pattern which can "stamp" out the casting template. Typically, sand casting is used for processing low-temperature Iron, Copper, Aluminium, Magnesium, and Nickel alloys. It is by far the oldest and best understood of all techniques. Consequently, automation may easily be adapted to the production process, somewhat less easily to the design and preparation of forms. These forms must satisfy exacting standards as they are the heart of the sand casting process - creating the most obvious necessity for human control.
| Sand Casting | Shell Moulding | Investment Casting | Permanent Mould Casting | Die Casting | |
