Aluminium Casting

The Students were observing how aluminium sand casting is carried out as part of the Engineering specification.  Students helped out with the stages of the casting process as Mr Hill our technician demonstrated how to set up the sand moulds using a cope and drag casings.  Portland sand was used to produce a mould around a pre-made wooden pattern.  The sand was packed down by the students while the aluminium was being heated.  One of our students then scraped the dross of the top of the aluminium to remove impurities.  The molten aluminium was de-gassed and then poured into the sand casts and allowed to cool.

The sand moulds were then broken up to reveal the aluminium casts.

This was a great way of revising and assessing what the students know before mocks start later in the year.