Core Making

Generally, cores are the internal passages of castings. Most cores at AGMF are made by mixing sand (both new and reclaimed at AGMF) with a two part chemical binder system. A third part, the catalyst, is introduced the the mixed sand as a gas to 'set' or 'cure' the core. This core process is referred to as a Cold Box System. The sand and binder are mixed in a screw type continuous mixer. As the sand leaves the mixer it is discharged into a blow head magazine on top of the core machine.

The core machine will then shoot the sand under air pressure into the core box. The core box is then 'gassed' with a catalyst to cure the sand. A fume scrubber is used to remove any excess catalyst gas from the machine. After the core is 'cured', it is removed from the core box and 'finished' by removing 'fins' from the parting lines. Complex cores are sometimes assembled from many smaller cores at this point. Once the finishing process is complete, the core is placed on racks and staged for use at the molding assembly area.