Croning process


The shell molding process is called after its inventor as "Croning" process.

Dry, free-flowing molding material, consisting of resin coated sand is added by means of gravity or by application of pressure onto or into the tool. By heating the pattern plates and core boxes, the curing of the resin contained in the molding material is performed. Thereby, the strain hardening of the molding material is achieved.

This creates a dependence of the thermal exposure time of the heated pattern to a stable shell mold of suitable thickness. The excess, not thermally hardened resin coated sand is emptied out of the shell and reused. The process principle is shown in Fig. 1 (Source: ingenieurkurse.de)

This molding process allows the production of molds or empty cores (Fig. 2, ASK Chemicals GmbH) and is preferably used in large batches. High quality construction parts are due to highest casting surfaces preferred field of application of this method. It is classified in the group of precision casting.

Preferred materials are cast iron alloys and steel castings. Limitations arise when cast steel with low carbon content by the danger of surface carburation.

 

Additional references:
Mold material hardening
Resin-coated sand
Hexamethylenetetramine
Core
Core shooting machine
Shell molding machine
Hardening (age hardening)



 

 

 

 

  • Fig. 1: Course of the procedure (Source: ingenieurkurse.de)
  • Fig. 2: Croning core (ASK Chemicals GmbH)