BASIC TERMS OF CASTING

1.      AERATOR – A device for fluffing (or decreasing the density of) and cooling the sand by the admixture of air.

2.      AIR GATE – A vertical channel for the removal of gases from the mould; checking of the filling of the mould cavity with metal and feeding up the casting with metal during solidification.

3.      AIR HOLE – Hole in a casting caused by air or gas trapped in the metal during solidification.

4.      AIRLESS BLAST CLEANING – A process whereby the abrasive material is applied to the object being cleaned by centrifugal force generated by a rotating vane type wheel.

5.      ANTIPIPING (material) – Usually refers to an insulating material placed on the top of a sprue or riser that keeps the metal in liquid or semiliquid form for a long period of time and minimizes the formation of the usual conical pipe or shrink in the top of a sprue or riser.

6.      ARBOR – A metal barrel, frame, or plate to support or carry part of a mould or core.

7.      ATMOSPHERIC RISER – Blind riser which employs atmospheric pressure to aid feeding.

8.      BACK DRAFT – Taper or draft which prevents removal of pattern from the mould.

9.      BINDER – Material used to hold the grains of sand together in moulds or cores. May be cereal, oil, clay, resin, pitch etc.

10.  BLAST CLEANING – Removal of sand or oxide scale from castings by the impinging action of sand, metal shot or grit projected under air, water or centrifugal pressure.