Sand casting uses a sand mold with a cavity to pour molten metal in. Sand casting is better suited for larger valve components. Unlike lost wax castings, it has the largest casting weight of 2 tons. However, it requires more machining allowance for the subsequent machining operations.
Certain types of valve bodies are often produced by sand casting rather than investment casting, primarily due to size, cost and material considerations. Typical sand cast valves include:
- Ball valve: Large ball valves are usually produced by sand casting.
- Gate valves: used in the oil and gas industry, sand casting is suitable for large gate valves.
- Butterfly valve: for large diameter, sand casting can produce large complex shapes at a lower cost.
- Pressure reducing valve: Commonly used in high-pressure applications, sand casting ensures durability.
- Pressure Relief valve: Used to regulate pipeline flow