Casting

Casting is a process in which a pattern or mold is created to define a cavity in another material. Molten metal is then poured into that cavity. When the metal cools, a part or set of parts is removed from the mold material.

Sand casting and investment casting are the two metal casting processes that are used in the Product Realization Lab. Sand casting is generally used to create multiples of medium-sized parts using a reusable pattern board. Investment casting patterns are often very small or delicate one-off carved wax parts.