With the development of science and technology and the rapid development of precision casting, different casting methods have different preparation contents.Taking sand mold casting which is widely used as an example, mold preparation includes two major tasks: molding material preparation, molding and core making.Model used in sand casting, core making all kinds of raw materials, such as casting sand, sand binder, and other accessories, and a mixture of sand, their core sand, coating etc are collectively referred to as molding materials, molding materials prepared by the nature of the task is in accordance with the requirements of the castings, metal, choose appropriate raw sand, binder and accessories, and then according to certain proportion of mixed them into certain properties of the sand and core sand.The commonly used sand mixing equipment includes grinding wheel sand mixing machine, counter-current sand mixing machine and continuous sand mixing machine.The latter is specially designed for mixed chemical self-hardening sand, continuous mixing, sand mixing speed.

Moulding and core-making are carried out on the basis of the determination of moulding methods and the preparation of moulding materials according to the requirements of casting technology.The precision of the casting and the economic effect of the whole production process mainly depend on this working procedure.In many modern casting workshops, molding and coring have been mechanized or automated.The commonly used sand molding core-making equipment includes high, medium and low pressure moulding machines, air punching moulding machines, non-box injection moulding machines, cold core box core-making machines, hot core box core-making machines, coated sand core-making machines, etc.

After the castings are removed from the castings after pouring and cooling, there are sprue, riser, metal burr and lap seam. The castings of sand casting still adhere to the sand, so they must go through the cleaning process.The equipment for this kind of work includes polishing machine, shot blasting machine, pouring riser cutting machine and so on.Sand falling cleaning of sand mold casting is a working procedure with poor working conditions, so when choosing the molding method, it should be considered to create convenient conditions for sand falling cleaning as far as possible.Due to special requirements, some castings have to undergo post-treatment, such as heat treatment, shaping, anti-rust treatment, rough machining, etc.

The casting process can be divided into three basic parts: metal preparation, mold preparation and casting treatment.Casting metal refers to the metal material used in casting production for casting. It is an alloy with a metal element as the main component and other metal or non-metallic elements added. It is traditionally called casting alloy and mainly consists of cast iron, cast steel and cast non-ferrous alloy.

After the castings are removed from the castings after pouring and cooling, there are sprue, risers and metal burrs, and the castings of sand casting still adhere to the sand, so it must go through the cleaning process.The equipment for this kind of work includes shot blasting machine, gate riser cutting machine, etc.Sand falling cleaning of sand mold casting is a working procedure with poor working conditions, so when choosing the molding method, it should be considered to create convenient conditions for sand falling cleaning as far as possible.Due to special requirements, some castings have to undergo post-treatment, such as heat treatment, shaping, anti-rust treatment, rough machining, etc.

Casting is an economical blank forming method, and it can show its economy for complicated parts.Such as the automobile engine cylinder block and cylinder head, the ship propeller as well as the exquisite work of art and so on.Some parts that are difficult to cut, such as nickel-based alloy parts for gas turbines, cannot be formed without casting.

In addition, casting parts of the size and weight of the scope of adaptation is very wide, almost unlimited types of metal;Parts in general mechanical properties, but also has wear resistance, corrosion resistance, shock absorption and other comprehensive performance, is other metal forming methods such as forging, rolling, welding, stamping, etc.Therefore, the number and tonnage of blank parts produced by casting method are still the largest in the machine manufacturing industry.

Metal, coke, wood, plastic, gas and liquid fuel and molding materials are often used in foundry.The required equipment includes all kinds of furnaces for smelting metal, all kinds of sand mixing machines for sand mixing, all kinds of molding machines and core making machines for molding, and all kinds of sand falling machines and shot blasting machines for casting cleaning.There are also machines and equipment for special foundry and many transportation and material handling equipment.

Casting production has different characteristics from other processes, mainly due to wide adaptability, need of materials and equipment, environmental pollution.Casting production will produce dust, harmful gas and noise pollution to the environment, more serious than other mechanical manufacturing process, need to take measures to control.

The trend of casting products development is to require castings with better overall performance, higher precision, less allowance and smoother surface.In addition, the demand for energy conservation and the society's appeal to restore the natural environment are also increasingly high.In order to meet these requirements, new casting alloys will be developed and new smelting processes and equipment will be developed accordingly.

The degree of mechanization and automation of casting production is increasing, and more flexible production will be developed to expand the adaptability to different batches and varieties of production.New technologies that save energy and raw materials will be given priority, while new processes and equipment that produce little or no pollution will be given priority.The quality control technology will have new development in the inspection of each working procedure, nondestructive inspection and stress measurement.