Shell Mould Casting

Shell moulding, also known as shell-mould casting, is an expendable mould casting process that uses a resin covered sand to form the mould. As compared to sand casting, this process has better dimensional accuracy, a higher productivity rate, and lower labour requirements. It is used for small to medium parts that require high precision. Shell mould casting is a metal casting process similar to sand casting, in that molten metal is poured into an expendable mould. However, in shell mould casting, the mould is a thin-walled shell created from applying a sand-resin mixture around a pattern. The pattern, a metal piece in the shape of the desired part, is reused to form multiple shell moulds. A reusable pattern allows for higher production rates, while the disposable moulds enable complex geometries to be cast. Shell mould casting requires the use of a metal pattern, oven, sand-resin mixture, dump box, and molten metal.