Capability
Fettling Shop
The Fettling Shop is where castings are cleaned, finished and prepared for inspection or further machining after being removed from the mold.
What happens in the Fettling Shop?
A casting that has come out of the sand mold is still attached to feed channels and risers, and has a rough surface full of burrs where the material has run past the pores of the mold. That excess material must be removed and the surface cleaned up.
At Allard-Europe, this is done with a combination of techniques:
- Controlled breaking points are already provided in the design to safely remove feeds and castings without damaging the casting
- Grinding or cutting of larger residues provides efficient and accurate removal of solid castings or burrs
- Manual chipping with hammers or chisels is used for smaller pieces or hard-to-reach areas
- Polishing and fine grinding make the surface smooth and free of blemishes, ready for inspection or further finishing
- Grit blasting thoroughly cleans the surface and removes any oxidation or sand residue from the casting process
- Cutting burns when molding systems must be accurately removed
The result is a clean base part, with no unnecessary material, that meets the strict quality standards we maintain in the rest of our manufacturing process.
Craftsmanship and precision
Operations in the Fettling Shop can only be automated to a limited extent. Castings vary widely in shape, mass, thickness and details. As a result, much work must be done manually.
The trick is not to remove too much material, not to cause cracks or damage in the casting, and above all to carry it out safely. Allard-Europe is therefore very proud of the experienced employees who bring this labor-intensive process to a successful conclusion every day with great expertise.
