Pattern from a couple of weeks ago | Melting Smelting | Forum

Top one I don't know. Probably something for the mining industry based on the customer. Bottom one is part of a steam turbine. While I do like to know what I am making is for both for curiosity sake and it helps with knowing what surfaces are most important which can sometimes affect how I build the pattern. Often I am a separated from the ultimate customer by a few levels. (I am working for the foundry who is working for a machine shop who is working for a purchasing agent at the ultimate customer) So I design and build the pattern to make the casting to the drawing and sometimes don't know what the casting is.

Most times I don't see the castings made from the patterns I build unless there is a problem. So it is kind of neat when I do get to see them. I was at the Metro Toronto Convention Center with my daughter 2 weeks ago. I pointed out the floor vault doors and frames that I built the patterns for that were all over the convention center to her. She didn't share my enthusiasm, I got the teenage "yea whatever Dad" and eye roll.

Here is another pattern I am turning today and tomorrow.

I will snap some pictures of it tomorrow. It is a big "Post lathe" Basically a headstock only lathe. The toolpost is a heavy potable stand. I bought it from the shop I used to work for. Before I worked for them it used to be set over a pit so it could be used to turn really big jobs. The guy I worked beside told me about a job they turned one time that was brushing the ceiling.

Here are a couple of pictures of the lathe Ries. It has been tarped up outside for about 2 years with the faceplate inside, I think I will throw a coat of paint on it before I take it back outside to slow down the rust.

Rob, to be honest I am not sure how fast it goes in rpm. After the initial truing up in the lowest gear I ran it in the second highest gear for most of the turning, which is still fairly slow rpm wise but the outside edge is moving pretty quick.

Here is also a picture of me turning with the lathe and the finished pattern. There is a cover corebox to form the other side, another shop is making that due to time restrictions.

Yes they are for casting. Sand is packed around them up to the parting line (where the mould gets split) The sand has either a chemical binder or has a very small amount of clay and even smaller amount of water. The pattern is then "stripped" (pulled out of the sand) . Any cores (separate blocks of sand formed in coreboxes) are then set in the mould (made of sand), the other half of the mould is closed on top. Metal is then poured into the mould and once it cools the mould is destroyed to get the casting.