Types Of Patterns :- A pattern is an element used for making cavities in the mould, into which molten metal is poured to produce a casting. The type of pattern to be used for a particular casting depends upon many factors like design of casting, complexity of shape, number of casting required [bulk of casting], mould process, surface finish and accuracy.
The requirements of a good pattern are:
- Secure the desired shape and size of the casting.
- Cheap and readily repairable.
- Simple in design for ease of manufacture.
- Light in mass and convenient to handle.
- Have high strength and long life in order to make as many moulds as required.
- Retain its dimensions and rigidity during the definite service life.
- Its surface should be smooth and wear resistant.
- Able to withstand rough handling.
The following patterns are commonly used.
- Solid or single piece pattern
- split or two piece patterns
- Gated pattern
- Match plate pattern
- skeleton pattern
- sweep pattern
- loose piece pattern
- cope and drag pattern
- follow board pattern
- segmental pattern
Solid or single piece pattern
It is the simplest of all patterns is made in one piece and carries no joints, partition or loose pieces. The pattern is cheap and it is best suited for limited production only. Since its moulding involves a large number of manual operations like gate cutting, providing runner and risers. so, such patterns are used for producing a few large castings for example, stuffing box of steam engine.
split or two piece patterns
These patterns are used for intricate casting of usual shapes. They are made in two parts and these two parts of the pattern are joined together with the help of dowel pins. While molding one of the patterns is contained by the drag and other by the cope. For a more complex casting, the pattern may be split in more than two parts.
Gated pattern
They are used in mass production for such castings multi – cavity moulds are prepared i.e., a single sand mould carries a number of cavities patterns and these castings are connected to each other by means of gate formers. Which provides suitable channels or gates in sand for feeding all the cavities. Gated patterns reduce the moulding time somewhat. Because of their higher cost, these patterns are used for producing small castings in mass production systems and on moulding machines.
Match plate pattern
For large castings having simple geometrical shapes, skeleton patterns are used. Just like sweep patterns, these are simple wooden frames that outline the shape of the part to be cast and are also used as guides by the molder in the hand shaping of the mould. This type of pattern is also used in pit or floor molding process.
sweep pattern
Some patterns usually single piece are made to have loose pieces in order to enable their easy with drawl from the mould. These pieces form and integral part of the pattern during moulding. After the mould is complete, the pattern is withdrawn leaving the pieces in the sand, which are later with drawn separately through the cavity formed by the pattern.
Cope and drag pattern
Follow board pattern
A follow board is a wooden board used for support a pattern during moulding. It acts as a seat for the pattern. In the former case, the follow board is provided with a cavity corresponding to the shape of the pattern in which the pattern is seated for moulding.
