Quick Reference Guide
Tooling
Cope
Top half of a horizontally parted flask, mold, or pattern.
Drag
Bottom half of a horizontally parted flask, mold, or pattern.
Cope/Drag Plates
Rather than a single match plate, there are two separate
pattern plate/mounts for the cope and drag. The cope (top)
half
of the pattern is mounted to the cope plate. The drag (bottom)
half of the pattern is mounted to the drag plate. Guide
pins are used to ensure the cope and drag plates are aligned
when put together to form a mold.
Flask
A rigid metal or wood frame used to hold sand from which
a mold is formed. It usually consists of two parts, cope
and drag.
Master Pattern
A pattern constructed with double shrinkage allowance, from
which cast production patterns or cast aluminum match plates
for production are made.
Match Plate
A plate made of cast aluminum from a master pattern that
forms both the cope and drag parts of the mold.
Mold
The form shaped by a pattern, made of sand, metal, or refractory
material, which contains the cavity into which molten metal
is poured to produce a casting of the desired shape.
Mold Cavity
The impression in the mold produced by removal of the pattern.
It is filled with the molten metal to form the casting.
Pattern
A form made of metal, plastic, wood, or other material, around
which molding material is placed to make a mold for casting
metal. The dimensions of the pattern have shrink
factored in.
Loose Pattern
A pattern not affixed to a plate, used to make molds for
castings.
Pattern Plate
Pattern affixed to a plate to make both the cope and drag
halves of a mold.
Permanent Mold
A permanent mold is the mold used to produce castings in
the permanent mold process. It is made of cast iron so
it can be used repeatedly, typically for the life of the
product. Molds may be made from CNC machined “Dura
Bar” material or custom cast from a pattern and then
CNC machined as required.
Green Sand Mold
Mold formed from a pattern using a compressed (jolted or
compacted) green sand mixture bonded together with clay
and moisture. The mold can be formed using manual or automated
processes. The mold is destroyed to remove the casting
after it has solidified in the mold. The sand is re-circulated
approximately every two hours to make a new mold.
Runner
The portion of the gate feature in the mold that connects
the down sprue with the casting, ingate, or riser. The
term also applies to that part of the pattern which forms
the runner. Runners are cut off the part and remelted (recycled).
Riser
Also called feeder. It is that part of the gating system
that forms the reservoir of molten metal necessary to compensate
for losses due to shrinkage as the metal solidifies. It
is also the last place in the mold to solidify and feeds
the casting until it is solid.
Sprue
A vertical cut or hole into the mold that allows molten metal
to flow into the mold.
Ingate
The portion of the gate system that introduces metal into
the casting cavity.
Vent
Small opening or passage in the mold or core to facilitate
the escape of gases when the mold is poured.
Chills
A metal insert in the sand mold used to produce localized
chilling and control the rate of casting solidification.
Note: Each section contains information about specific subjects or terms as they apply to Pentz Cast Solutions. The Guide is as accurate as possible; however, all material is provided without warranty of any kind.