How do you classify the different tools used in foundry?
Foundry tools are broadly classified into several key categories based on their function in the metal casting process.
According to industry practices, tools used in a foundry can be broadly classified into the following categories:
- Hand Tools: These are manually operated tools essential for various tasks, particularly mold making operations carried out by molders. Examples include trowels, slickers, rammers, and shovels.
- Sand Conditioning Tools: Equipment used to prepare and process molding sand, ensuring it has the proper properties for casting. This includes mixers, screens, and aerators.
- Flasks: Also known as molding boxes, these are containers or frames used to hold the molding sand and the pattern during mold preparation.
- Power Operated Equipments: This category includes machinery and tools that are driven by power (electric, pneumatic, hydraulic). Examples range from sand slingers and jolt-squeeze machines to conveyors and shakeout machines.
- Metal Melting Equipments: Furnaces and related equipment used to melt the metal alloys to be cast. Common types include cupola furnaces, induction furnaces, electric arc furnaces, and crucible furnaces.
- Fettling and Finishing Equipments: Tools and machinery used for cleaning, trimming, and finishing the casting after it has been solidified and removed from the mold. This includes grinders, chipping hammers, blasting equipment, and saws.
This classification helps organize the wide array of equipment necessary for the complete casting process, from preparing the mold and melting the metal to producing the final casting.
