Χύτευση καλουπιού κελύφους, also referred to commonly as shell molding, is comparatively a new casting technique, developed in Germany in the 1940s.
It’s a type of metal casting process that involves pouring molten metal(ferrous or non-ferrous) or alloy into sand and resin which is further heated and shaped to build a mold.
Shell mold casting offers improved surface finish and higher precision compared to other metal casting methods, and suitable for small parts that require complex shapes and high dimensional accuracy.
Shell mold casting is applied to various industries such as aerospace, ιατρικός, και αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίες.
It is especially popular in the automotive industry and is often employed to manufacture camshafts, κιβώτια ταχυτήτων, στροφαλοφόρους άξονες, κυλινδροκεφαλές, bearing housings, lever arms, and valve bodies.
Two matching metal pattern halves—typically machined from steel or iron—are produced to the exact geometry of the desired casting (plus allowances for shrinkage and shell thickness).
Each pattern half is heated (≈180–250 °C), lightly sprayed with a release agent, then dipped into a “dump box” containing fine sand coated in a thermosetting resin.
The hot pattern cures a uniform shell layer (6–12 mm thick) as excess sand is shaken off.
The two cured shell halves are carefully stripped from their patterns.
If internal cavities are required, resin‐bonded sand cores are placed inside one shell half.
The cope (top) and drag (bottom) shells are then clamped together in a flask, and the gating system (άφθαι, δρομείς, vents) is attached.
Molten metal or alloy (π.χ., σίδερο, ατσάλι, αλουμίνιο) is heated to its liquidus temperature and poured by gravity into the sprue.
The metal fills the shell cavity, replicating fine details and thin sections.
The thin, ceramic‐like shell conducts heat away rapidly.
After an appropriate cooling interval—often just a few minutes at ambient temperature—the metal has solidified into a robust casting.
The flask is opened and the shell fragments are broken away to free the casting.
The part is then freed of any gating or core material and undergoes any required trimming, άλεσμα, or surface finishing before inspection.
Shell molding accommodates most ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, για παράδειγμα:
| Alloy Family | Typical Grades | Key Properties & Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Iron | ASTM A48 Class 20–40 | Excellent machinability & vibration damping; used for engine blocks, περιβλήματα. |
| Εόλκιμος Σίδηρος | ASTM A536 60-40-18, 65-45-12 | Higher strength & toughness than gray iron; ideal for gears, στροφαλοφόρους άξονες, βαλβίδες. |
| Ανθρακούχο χάλυβα | AISI 1018, 1020, 1045 | Good strength and weldability; used for shafts, αγκύλες, δομικά μέρη. |
| Κραματοποιημένος χάλυβας | 4140, 4340, H13 | Enhanced hardness, σκληρότητα, και αντοχή στη φθορά; used in dies, εργαλεία, βαριά μηχανήματα. |
| Ανοξείδωτο ατσάλι | 304, 316, 17-4PH, 2205 (Διπλός) | Corrosion resistance and strength; used in chemical, τροφή, ιατρικός, and marine parts. |
| Κράματα αλουμινίου | A356, A357, ADC12 | Πυγμάχος ελαφρού βάρους, good fluidity; used for automotive brackets, περιβλήματα, aerospace fittings. |
| Κράματα χαλκού | C905 (Χάλκινο κασσίτερο), C836 (Αλουμίνιο), C230 (Cartridge Brass) | Excellent wear and corrosion resistance; χρησιμοποιείται σε ρουλεμάν, δακτυλίους, θαλάσσιο υλικό. |
| Nickel-Based Alloys | Αναγκάζω 625, Hastelloy C276 | Outstanding high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance; used in aero-engines, χημική επεξεργασία. |
| Κράματα μαγνησίου | AZ91D, AM60 | Very lightweight; used in electronics housings and automotive components. |
| Zinc Alloys | Zamak 3, Zamak 5 | Low melting point and excellent detail reproduction; used for small, περίπλοκα μέρη (hardware, εξαρτήματα). |
1. Proprietary Resin‐Sand Formulations
2. High-Speed, Automated Shell Production
3. Expert Pattern & Tooling Design
4. Broad Alloy Capability
5. Tight Dimensional Control
6. Lean, Green Operations
7. Comprehensive Quality Assurance
8. Dedicated Technical Support
| Βιομηχανία | Typical Shell Mold Castings | Typical Products |
|---|---|---|
| Αυτοκίνητο | Camshaft and crankshaft housings, gearbox and transmission cases, κυλινδροκεφαλές, bearing carriers, and linkage arms—benefit from tight tolerances and fine surface finish, reducing or eliminating post-machining. |  |
| Aerospace & Defense | Actuator brackets, fuel-system fittings, small turbine stator segments, control-surface hinges, and structural brackets—leveraging weight-sensitive, high-precision parts where repeatability and fatigue resistance are critical. |  |
| Ιατρικές συσκευές | Surgical instrument handles and housings, implant-fixture bushings, orthopedic bracketry, and fluid-control valves—requiring complex internal passages, biocompatible alloys, and sterilizable finishes. |  |
| Industrial Valves & Pumps | Precision valve bodies, πτερωτές, volutes, and pump housings cast in stainless or duplex stainless steels—resisting corrosive media while maintaining exacting dimensional requirements for reliable sealing and flow control. |  |
| Oil & Gas / Πετροχημική | Chemical-service fittings, filter housings, manifold blocks, and instrumentation flanges—taking advantage of exotic alloys (π.χ., Αναγκάζω, Hastelloy) with minimal surface porosity and high dimensional fidelity. |  |
| Consumer & Decorative | Ornamental door handles, φωτιστικά, sculpture components, and architectural accents—shell-cast in brass, μπρούντζος, or aluminum to capture fine textures and crisp edges. |  |
| Renewable Energy & Power Generation | Small hydraulic turbine nozzles, control-valve bodies, and generator accessory brackets—benefiting from rapid turnaround and the ability to cast heat-resistant alloys with tight wall-thickness control. |  |
| Same side of parting line: | ± .020 for 1st 3″ | Add ± .003 / inch over 3″ |
| Across parting line: | ± .030 for 1st 3″ | ± .003 / inch over 3″ |
| Draft: | Typically 1° | Certain applications at 0° draft. |
| Typical Finish Stock: | .060″ maximum | |
| Hole size cast into part: | DIAMETER | DEPTH |
| Less than 0.5″ | Equal to diameter | |
| 0.5″ – 1.0″ | Equal to 1.5 times diameter | |
| Greater than 1.0″ | Equal to 2 times diameter |
Shell mold casting is a precision sand-based process in which a heated metal pattern is coated with fine, resin-bonded sand to form thin “shell” halves. Once cured and assembled, these shells serve as the mold into which molten metal is poured.
Almost any alloy is suitable—including gray and ductile irons, carbon and alloy steels, ανοξείδωτους χάλυβες, κράματα αλουμινίου, copper-based alloys, and even nickel-based superalloys—thanks to the shell’s heat resistance.
Typical dimensional tolerances reach ±0.3 mm per 100 mm, and surface finishes are in the Ra 3–6 µm range. This precision often eliminates or minimizes secondary machining.
Shell molding excels at small to medium components (from a few grams up to about 50 κιλά). Shell halves larger than this become difficult to handle and may crack under their own weight.
Each shell half cures in roughly 10–30 seconds on automated dip-and-shake equipment. This quick turnaround supports fast prototyping and moderate production volumes.
Intricate details—thin walls (down to 1.5 mm), υποτιμά, fine ribs, and internal passages—are readily achieved. Cores can be inserted for complex internal cavities.
Select shell molding when your parts require small- to medium-size, ακρίβεια υψηλής διαστάσεων, fine surface quality, and complex detail.
| Κριτήρια | Χύτευση άμμου | Shell Mold Casting | Επενδυτική χύτευση |
|---|---|---|---|
| Υλικό καλουπιού | Green sand (πυρίτιο + clay) | Resin-bonded fine sand shell | Κεραμικό κέλυφος (wax patterns dipped in slurry) |
| Κόστος εργαλείων | Very low | Μέτριος (heated patterns + resin sand) | Ψηλά (wax tooling + multiple shell dips) |
| Mold Reuse | Οχι (sand broken each pour, but sand is reclaimable) | Οχι (each shell single-use, sand reclaimable) | Οχι (each ceramic shell single-use) |
| Part Size Range | Very small to very large (> several tons) | Small to medium (up to ~50 kg) | Very small to small (τυπικά < 10 κιλά) |
| Ανοχή διαστάσεων | ± 0.5 mm ανά 100 mm | ± 0.25–0.35 mm per 100 mm | ± 0.15–0.25 mm per 100 mm |
| Φινίρισμα Επιφανείας (Ra) | 6–12 µm | 3–6 µm | 1–2 µm |
| Πάχος Τοίχου | ≥ 6 mm | ≥ 1.5–2 mm | ≥ 1 mm |
| Περίπλοκο & Detail | Μέτριος (cores required for internal features) | Ψηλά (λεπτό τοίχωμα, fine features easily achieved) | Πολύ ψηλά (υποτιμά, intricate geometries) |
| Ώρα κύκλου | Αργός (mold prep, κούνημα) | Γρήγορα (shell cures in seconds) | Slowest (multiple coating and dewax steps) |
| Όγκος Παραγωγής | Χαμηλό προς μέτριο | Χαμηλό προς μέτριο | Χαμηλό προς μέτριο (100–1,000s parts) |
| Typical Alloys | Σίδερο, ατσάλι, αλουμίνιο, μπρούντζος, και τα λοιπά. | Σίδερο, ατσάλι, stainless, αλουμίνιο, κράματα χαλκού | Stainless, Υπαλλήλια, μπρούντζος, αλουμίνιο |
| Post-processing Needs | Often heavy machining and surface cleanup | Minimal machining; light finishing | Minimal machining; often ready to final shape |
| Best For | Μεγάλο, heavy, cost-sensitive parts | Precision small/medium parts with moderate volume | Extremely intricate, thin-walled, high-accuracy parts |
Πνευματική ιδιοκτησία © 2024 THIS Technology Co., Ltd Με την επιφύλαξη παντός δικαιώματος.
Αφήστε μια απάντηση