Shell Casting or Shell Mold Casting is a casting process mainly used to make large or complex shaped castings. This method is to cast by coating sand or metal material on the surface of the mold to form a thin shell. The main process is as follows:
Mold preparation: First, a mold is made, usually using metal or synthetic materials. The surface of the mold is coated with heat-resistant materials such as resin or clay to help form the shell.
Coating: Sand (usually fine sand) is mixed with a binder (such as resin) and coated on the surface of the mold. This process can be done by hand or by dipping. The coating thickness is generally several millimeters.
Heating and curing: The coated mold is heated to cure the coating and form a solid shell.
Stripping: After the mold shell cools, the mold shell is stripped to obtain a two-part shell mold.
Mold pouring: Molten metal is poured into the mold shell to fill the mold shape.
Cooling and removal: After the casting cools and hardens, the mold shell is removed and the casting is removed.
Advantages
High precision: Shell casting can produce castings with high precision and good surface finish.
Adaptability: Suitable for casting parts with complex shapes, especially in certain specific applications, such as aerospace, automotive and other industries.
Mechanical strength: Due to the characteristics of the shell material, the cast parts often have excellent mechanical properties.
Application
Shell casting is widely used in the manufacture of large and complex metal parts, such as engine parts, process equipment and mechanical components.
In short, shell casting is an efficient and accurate casting technology that is widely used in modern manufacturing.