2. Mold Making: Create a mold cavity (impression) based on the pattern. The mold can be made from various materials such as sand, plaster, or metal, depending on the casting method.
3. Core Making: Depending on the complexity of the object, it might require internal mold components called cores to create intricate shapes or hollow sections. Cores are typically made of sand or other suitable materials and are placed within the mold cavity before pouring the molten metal.
4. Pouring: Once the mold and core (if needed) are ready, molten metal is poured into the mold cavity, filling the empty spaces and solidifying into the desired shape. This step requires careful control of temperature, timing, and pouring techniques.
5. Solidification and Cooling: The molten metal cools and solidifies inside the mold, taking the form of the mold cavity. This process can take varying amounts of time depending on the metal and casting method used. Once solidified, the casting is removed from the mold, and any necessary post-processing (e.g., cleaning, heat treatment, finishing) is performed to obtain the final product.