What are the commonly used casting processes in manufacturing steel castings?

In the process of making steel castings, it is crucial to choose the right casting process because different processes are suitable for different applications and design requirements. The following are some commonly used casting processes, each of which has its own unique advantages and scope of application.

1. Gravity Casting
Gravity casting is one of the most traditional and commonly used casting methods. It uses gravity to pour molten metal into a casting mold. This method is simple and low-cost, and is suitable for making large or medium-complexity castings. The advantage of gravity casting is that the surface quality of the casting is good and can be processed later.

2. Precision Casting (Lost Wax Casting)
Precision casting, also known as lost wax casting, is a high-precision casting process. The process is to coat the wax model with ceramic material, then heat to remove the wax, leaving a ceramic mold, and then pour the molten metal into the mold. This method is suitable for making small castings of complex shapes with high dimensional accuracy and surface finish, and is widely used in aerospace and medical equipment.

3. Sand Casting
Sand casting is a method of making castings using sand as the main material. Sand casting is a flexible process that can produce castings of various shapes and sizes, and is particularly suitable for mass production. The disadvantages of this method are that it may result in a rough surface of the casting and defects are easily generated during the casting process. Sand casting is commonly used in the production of automotive parts and mechanical parts.

4. Die casting
Die casting is a process in which molten metal is poured into a mold under high pressure. This method can produce castings of complex shapes with high production efficiency and good dimensional stability. Die casting is suitable for mass production and is often used to manufacture automotive parts and electronic product housings.

5. Continuous casting
Continuous casting is a method in which molten metal is continuously poured into a mold and quickly cooled to form. This process is mainly used to manufacture long products such as steel and aluminum, such as steel pipes and profiles. The advantages of continuous casting are high production efficiency and uniform structural properties of the finished product, which can meet the needs of large-scale production.

6. Arc casting
Arc casting uses electric arc heating to melt the metal and pour the molten metal into a mold. This method is suitable for the production of high-alloy steel and special alloys, and can ensure the high purity and excellent performance of the casting. Arc casting is often used to manufacture castings with special requirements, such as nuclear power equipment and aerospace components.