Abstract: A core (1) for producing castings (100) in a modular mold; each casting (100) having at least one thermally activatable portion (102) shaped so that it can face a heat source (HS); each casting (100) having at least one duct (106) contained inside the portion (102); the duct (106) being fluid tight so that a fluid can flow through it; the core (1) having a suitable shape to form, in negative, the duct (106); the core (1) including at least one insert (20)(20?)(20?) shaped so as to define at least two passages (200)(200?) for the fluid inside the duct (106).

Abstract: A form for receiving a filler material to create an island is provided. The form is made essentially entirely out of galvannealed steel that is easily paintable. The form has a substantially continuous wall having an outer surface and an inner surface. The wall is made out of a plurality of galvannealed steel wall sections. The wall has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The inner surface forms an enclosed chamber for receiving the filler material. A first support made out of galvannealed steel is attached to the inner surface of the first side of the wall and a second support made out of galvannealed steel is attached to the inner surface of the second side of the wall. A brace made out of galvannealed steel is disposed between the supports, wherein the brace removably engages the supports.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stamper in which an oxide film having a fine concave-convex structure made up of a plurality of fine pores having an aspect ratio represented by [the depth of the fine pores/the average interval between the fine pores] of 1 to 4 is formed on the surface of an aluminum base material which is made of aluminum having a content of Ti of 150 ppm to 500 ppm, a content of B or C of 1 ppm to 50 ppm and a purity of 99.9% or more. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a low-cost stamper in which the emergence of a pattern derived from the traces of crystal grains on the surface of the oxide film is suppressed, an article having a favorable appearance, which is manufactured using the above stamper, and a method for manufacturing the above.

Abstract: A mold in which a fine uneven structure is formed on the surface by anodizing a surface of an aluminum base material having a purity of equal to or more than 99.5% by mass, wherein a 60-degree gloss of the surface on the side where a fine uneven structure is formed is equal to or more than 750%.

Abstract: A “cold box” process for forming a foundry shape by curing a binder in a foundry mix operates by sequentially introducing a first vaporous curing catalyst to a pattern containing the formed foundry mix, followed by introducing at least a second vaporous curing catalyst. By arranging the amounts of the respective vaporous curing catalysts and the contact times, as well as by using the less active vaporous curing catalyst first, the total amount of curing catalyst used to effect the cure is reduced. Carrier gas may be used with the respective vaporous curing catalysts. Typically, the vaporous curing catalysts are tertiary amines having between three and six carbon atoms.

Abstract: A mold for producing a part, such as a turbomachine blade model, by injecting wax into a cavity, the cavity including at least two cavity elements, each of which is supported in a cavity block. The two cavity blocks are mobile relative to one another between a closed position for injecting the wax and an open position for removing the part following the injection of the wax. The two cavity blocks are mobile in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: An injection mold producing a model of a turbine engine blade, including: a top surface that folds onto a bottom surface, both surfaces including long rods for supporting a core generating cooling cavities inside the blade, wherein the long rods of the bottom surface are configured to contact a first surface of the airfoil at bearing points, and the long rods of the top surface are configured to contact a second surface of the airfoil at clamping points; at least one short rod extending from one of the surfaces of the mold and pointing towards a false point located on one of the surfaces of the airfoil, the length of the short rod being shorter than the distance between the surface of the mold and the surface of the blade at the false point, and the difference between the length and the distance being equal to tolerance in relation to positioning of the false point in event of deformation of the core.

Abstract: A root portion 7a of a sipe blade 7 that protrudes from a surface 12a of a plaster casting mold 12 is coated with a coating layer 10 of an easily collapsible refractory material. A string-shaped exhaust hole forming member 11 of a casting refractory material is attached to the sipe blade 7 so as to be in contact with the coating layer 10. Molten metal M is poured onto the surface 12a of the plaster casting mold 12 in this state so as to cast a mold with the shape of the surface 12a transferred thereon and with the root portion 7a of the sipe blade 7 cast therein. The coating layer 10 is thereafter removed to form a slit around the root portion 7a of the sipe blade 7. The exhaust hole forming member 11 is also removed to form an exhaust hole communicating with the outside of the piece. Therefore, the slit and the exhaust hole communicate with each other. In this way, a mold provided with an exhaust mechanism can be simply produced.

Abstract: Provided are a die change apparatus for use in a flaskless molding machine capable of mounting dies for producing a casting mold on die bases even when the dies have a great thickness, and a die carrying-in device used therein. The die carrying-in device comprises a first movable plate provided so as to be slidable along a die carrying-in direction toward a first die base, and a second movable plate placed so as to face the first movable plate in a standby position. A die drive source causes dies which have been positioned in a height direction to be detached from the movable plates, move toward the die bases, and be supported by clamping elements. An intersection drive source causes at least one of the first movable plate and the second movable plate to move in a direction to intersect the die carrying-in direction independently of the other.

Abstract: An investment casting process wherein the wax pattern tool (42) is flexible to provide compliant support for an enclosed ceramic core (10) and to facilitate removal of the tool from the cast wax pattern (52) even when the cast shape would otherwise require multiple pull planes. Positioning pins (106) may extend from the flexible tool to make compliant contact against the core during the wax injection step. The pins may cooperate with a pedestal (128) formed on the core to support the core along multiple axes during wax injection, thereby allowing a higher wax injection pressure without damage to the core.

Abstract: A mold core package for forming a molding tool includes a plurality of stacked particulate layers having a binding agent. The plurality of stacked particulate layers form sacrificial walls. An elongate sacrificial displacement line extends through the mold core package adjacent a forming surface of the mold core package. A mold cavity is defined by the stacked particulate layers.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a forming machine without pattern casting, including: a multi-axis motion system which at least includes an X-axis motion system, a Y-axis motion system and a Z-axis motion system, and a workbench which is below the multi-axis motion system; and further includes: a moving platform system below the workbench, including a moving bracket which can reciprocate along the direction parallel to the X axis, a lifting device provided on the moving bracket, which is used for lifting and supporting the workbench to enable the linkage between the workbench and the moving bracket. The forming machine without pattern casting of the disclosure can move the workbench without a lifting tool, and machine a casting mold with a large size and a complex cavity, and causes little pollution to the environment.

Abstract: A method of serializing a cast part includes providing a mold for a metal casting, with the mold including an inner face partially defining a part cavity; laser engraving a representation of the two-dimensional data matrix into the inner face of the mold; and forming a serialized part by pouring molten metal into the part cavity of the mold, where the molten metal fills the part cavity including the engraved representation of the two-dimensional data matrix. The two-dimensional data matrix being generated by an electronic controller and includes error correcting information and part identifying information.

Abstract: A mold core package for forming a molding tool includes a plurality of stacked particulate layers having a binding agent. The plurality of stacked particulate layers form sacrificial walls. An elongate sacrificial displacement line extends through the mold core package adjacent a forming surface of the mold core package. A mold cavity is defined by the stacked particulate layers.

Abstract: An object is to provide a mold molding method which can provide a high general-purpose property and can reduce a usage quantity of molding sand. In a method for molding a mold (sand mold) by self-hardening molding sand using a caking additive, the mold is molded by disposing hollow spheres each formed to have no clearance therein among molding sand mixed with the caking additive. Preferably, the hollow sphere may be formed by working two metal plates to semispherical shapes and then connecting the semispherical-shaped metal plates to each other by welding their respective whole peripheries. A specific gravity of the hollow sphere may be 0.5 to 2.0 times a specific gravity of the molding sand.

Abstract: A mold for producing a part, such as a turbomachine blade model, by injecting wax into a cavity, the cavity including at least two cavity elements, each of which is supported in a cavity block. The two cavity blocks are mobile relative to one another between a closed position for injecting the wax and an open position for removing the part following the injection of the wax. The two cavity blocks are mobile in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injection mold for producing a model of a turbine engine blade, comprising a top surface that folds onto a bottom surface, both surfaces having long rods for supporting a core (2) for generating cooling cavities inside the blade, wherein said long rods of the bottom surface are to contact a first surface (12) of the airfoil at bearing points (A51 to A53), and said long rods of the top surface are to contact a second surface of said airfoil at clamping points.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a pattern of an item of manufacture, the method and apparatus including the use of a mold frame, mold, mold core, injection frame and injection core to create patterns of items of manufacture for investment casting.

Abstract: In order to produce molds or cores for foundry purposes from a mixture (M) of molding compound or sand and at least one binder, the mixture is mixed (M) by a mixing device (20) and is fed with the aid of a feeding system (30) to at least one sand storage unit (40) of a core or mold production device (50), wherein the mixture-free region (21) of the mixing device (20), at least at times, and/or the feeding system (30) located between the mixing device (20) and the core or mould production device (50), and/or the sand storage unit (40) downstream of the feeding system (30) and upstream of the core or mould production device (50), is moistened or kept moist by means of a liquid (71). The liquid (71) used for moistening is atomised by at least one ultrasonic atomiser (60) to form a suspended aerosol and is fed to the mixing device (20) and/or the feeding system (30) and/or the sand storage unit (40) via pipes (81, 82, 83).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a pattern of an item of manufacture, the method and apparatus including the use of a mold frame, mold, mold core, injection frame and injection core to create patterns of items of manufacture for investment casting.

Abstract: A mold boring apparatus including a mold boring tool having a flow passage formed inside of the mold boring tool which allows a fluid to flow therethrough, having slits and protruding portions formed on an outer peripheral portion of an outer body of a tool blade member of the mold boring tool in a circumferential direction thereof extending from a leading end to a base end of the tool blade member, and blades that are inclined inward and are formed at leading ends of the protruding portions formed between the adjacent slits.

Abstract: In the castings of a turbine element, a sheet casting core is assembled to a feedcore. The sheet casting core and feedcore are placed in a die. A sacrificial pattern material is molded over the casting core and feedcore to form a pattern including an airfoil. The sheet casting core extends from at or adjacent a trailing edge of the airfoil. The sheet casting core has a first array of open areas and a second array of portions interspersed with the open areas. A first portion of the die has a third array of projections contacting the second array.

Abstract: To provide a casting mold manufacturing apparatus using steam heating. The apparatus includes a forming die having a cavity, a resin-coated sand supply section for supplying a resin-coated sand into the cavity, a steam supply section for supplying steam into the cavity, and a steam discharge section for discharging the steam from the cavity. At least a portion of the forming die is composed of a porous material having pores with an average diameter smaller than an average particle diameter of the resin-coated sand. At least a portion of the steam is supplied into the cavity through the porous material. Since it is possible to uniformly supply the steam into the cavity, a homogeneous casting mold can be manufactured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a core or foundry sand that can be used for the production of cores and casting moulds for the casting of molten metals, comprising a basic moulding material, coated with a layer of an adhesive agent and a layer of water glass lying over the latter and a water glass content in the range of?approximately 0.25% by weight to approximately 0.9% by weight in relation to the overall weight of the core and foundry sand.

Abstract: A process for producing a mold includes introducing a composition including a particulate, refractory material and a binder into a hollow model having an interior cavity which determines contours of all surfaces of the mold or a mold part, wherein the model includes at least two separate parts to permit removal of the mold, and applying a second composition containing at least one organosilicon component and at least one solvent to at least one of the separable parts before use.

Abstract: A sand-forming apparatus (10) comprising a box (20), a blow tube assembly (50) and a bonnet (90). The box (20) has a cope (30) and a drag (40) which together define a cavity (21) having a shape corresponding to a desired sand-shape. The blow tube assembly (50) comprises a blowplate (55), and at least one tube (50). The bonnet (90) may be fixed to and movable with the blowplate (55). Relative movement between the cope (30), the blowplate (55) and/or the bonnet (90) converts the apparatus (10) between a sand-blowing state and a catalyst-introducing state.

Abstract: A mold-forming assembly for forming chemical set sand into a plurality of mold portions for one or more objects to be cast in the mold portions. The assembly includes a loading subassembly for forming the mold portions, a positioning subassembly for positioning each mold portion in a predetermined position, and a conveyor subassembly extending between the loading and positioning subassemblies, for moving the mold portions from the loading subassembly to the positioning subassembly.

Abstract: To provide a casting mold manufacturing apparatus using steam heating. The apparatus includes a forming die having a cavity, a resin-coated sand supply section for supplying a resin-coated sand into the cavity, a steam supply section for supplying steam into the cavity, and a steam discharge section for discharging the steam from the cavity. At least a portion of the forming die is composed of a porous material having pores with an average diameter smaller than an average particle diameter of the resin-coated sand. At least a portion of the steam is supplied into the cavity through the porous material. Since it is possible to uniformly supply the steam into the cavity, a homogeneous casting mold can be manufactured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for creating clearances in the moulding said of a moulding box, the moulding box being transported into a working area of a robot, a piercing device being brought into a predeterminable position above the moulding box, a piercing implement of the piercing device being moved by a drive predetermined distance in the direction of the moulding said and introduced into the moulding said to a previously defined depth. The invention also relates to a piercing device for creating clearances in the moulding said of a moulding box with at least one connection point at which a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection to a robot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one drive and with at least one piercing implement, the holding device being connected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and the at least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.

Abstract: A process for forming an airfoil portion of a turbine engine component, such as a turbine blade, is described. The process comprises the steps of placing a ceramic core having a configuration of a passageway to be formed in the airfoil portion within a mold, attaching a refractory metal core element to the ceramic core to stabilize a tip region of the ceramic core, and casting the airfoil portion.

Abstract: An improved detectable spool for use with a ribbon includes an improved hub which includes a core and an indication member. The indication member is a generally planar metallic member that is substantially embedded in or is otherwise mounted to the core, with the indication member including a support and a plurality of tabs. In at least one embodiment the indication member is a monolithically formed single-piece member, while in another embodiment the indication member is a multi-component member.

Abstract: A device for improved supply of falling particle material (5) into a foundry machine's hopper (1) through a closeable inlet opening (4) therein, such machine e.g. being of the “Disamatic®”-type and/or functioning accordingly, comprising:—a guiding surface (6) being the circumferring internal side surface of a tapering space in a surrounding structure;—the wider end of said tapering space being pointing upwards intercepting the flow (5) of falling material meant for said hopper (1);—the narrower end of said tapering space being arranged at said inlet opening (4), allowing for a stream of intercepted particle material (5) to substantially unhindered pass the opened said inlet opening (4) after leaving said narrower end face; and—said structure circumferring said tapering space outside of its guiding surface (6) is providing at least one opening (@7) relative to the opened inlet opening off said narrower end face.

Abstract: The object of the device is to provide a novel cam device applicable to sand molding machines in which the cam (1) has its active surface (2) facing downwards to prevent sand or dirt from being deposited between said cam (1) and the its supporting follower (10), which the machine is provided with to cause the swivelling of the said cam. For this purpose the cam (1) is hinged at a point (3) to a frame (4) which may move longitudinally, while on another point (5) it is hinged to a connecting rod (6) which is in turn hinged on its opposite end at the point (8) to the front swinging plate (7) of the sand mote molding machine, with said front plate (7) hinged at the point (9) on its rearmost edge to the frame (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing a pattern plate (1) upward from a carrier plate (2), which pattern plate is held in the carrier plate and transferred along a transport path, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first lifting cylinder (5) having an upwardly extendable piston rod (5A) and that is fixedly disposed below the transport path, a mount table (7) secured to the tip end of the first lifting cylinder piston rod (5), and second and third lifting cylinders mounted on the mount table in a spaced-apart relationship, the second and third lifting cylinders each having an upwardly extendable piston rod (9, 9A), a mount plate (10, 10A) secured to the tip end of the piston rod (9, 9A), and a plurality of draw pins (11, 11A) mounted upright on the mount plate.

Abstract: A device for hardening a core mass containing sand contained within a foundry core forming tool includes a mixing device in communication with the foundry core forming tool for introducing a flow of a carrier gas stream enriched by catalyst vapor into the core mass containing sand; a first runnings system including a catalyst receiver tank containing catalyst, a first runnings pipe in communication with the catalyst receiver tank and the mixing device, a pump provided in the first runnings pipe for pumping catalyst from the catalyst receiver tank through the first runnings pipe, valve device provided in the first runnings pipe for dispensing catalyst into the mixing device, and a flow meter provided in the first running pipe between the pump and the valve device; a compressed air source in communication with the mixing device for providing a carrier gas stream comprised of air thereto; and programmed control device for controlling the valve device of the first runnings system and the compressed air source; wh

Abstract: In a conveyor or other foundry equipment having surfaces protected by a wear plate secured to a structural part of the equipment, the wear plate is detachably secured by means of studs permanently secured to a structural part of the equipment. Heads of the studs cooperate with engagement flanges in keyhole-like recesses in the wear plate, all in such a manner that the wear plate can be detached by sliding it in a direction to disengage the flanges from the heads. With this arrangement, the wear plate can be attached and detached without the use of tools other than possibly a soft mallet, and without the use of screws exposed at the wear face of the wear plate. The arrangement can also be used to detachably secure a wear plate to other structural parts of foundry equipment such as a moulding chamber or a clamp.

Abstract: The assembly includes plural independently operated rotating shafts that contact the sand fill. As the fill is introduced into a first end of the vertical chute, the speed and rotational direction of the shafts with accompanying tines are controlled to regulate the feed rate and discharge of the fill to a molding chamber. This arrangement provides a more uniform density in the molding chamber which, in turn, results in improved quality in the cast product.

Abstract: A resin coated sand is blown into a core box to form an uncured core with a desired packing density. The core box has one or more inlets to permit ingress of gases and one or more outlets to permit egress of only gases. A non-catalyzing gas is passed through the defined sand core in the core box to create a first effluent and the hydrocarbon content in such first effluent that was exposed to the uncured resin of the sand core is measured. A catalyst carrying gas (nitrogen) is injected into the inlets to pass through the defined sand core within the core box for polymerizing the resin and thence exit from the outlets as a second effluent. The hydrocarbon content of the second effluent is continuously measured (i.e. non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy system). When the hydrocarbon content decreases to approximately the hydrocarbon content of the first effluent, the core box is opened to remove the sand core in a consistently cured condition.

Abstract: Core sand material is received in an enclosed chamber and is forced into the cavity of a mold by compressing the air above the sand material with essentially no mixing of the air and sand material. The air is compressed by a piston which forces a pressure packer plate downwardly above the core sand material which is held in the bottom of the chamber by a specially designed baffle control plate assembly ready to be forced by the compressed air into the mold.

Abstract: A one-piece water jacket core for an internal combustion engine is formed by providing a first core box portion and a second core box portion adapted for assembly and formation of the one-piece water jacket core. The first core box portion includes a first cavity adapted to form a lower portion of the one-piece water jacket core and the second core box portion includes a second cavity adapted to form an upper portion of the one-piece water jacket core. A plurality of movable members are pivotally carried adjacent to, and preferably by, one of the core box portions. Each of the pivotal movable members includes a portion adapted to form a water jacket port and to be pivoted, after assembly of the first and second core box portions, to a position forming one of the water jacket ports in the one-piece water jacket core. The invention is particularly adapted for the formation of one-piece water jacket cores with a cold-cure process.

Abstract: A gas-permeable form tool for manufacturing casting and core moulds from hardenable moulding sand includes a heteroporous, open-pore material. The wall of the tool contains a first fine-pore layer region adjacent to the moulding sand with a thickness of about 0.2-2 mm and a material density of about 75% to 95% of theoretical specific density and a pore diameter of about 50 .mu.m. The first fine-pore layer comes in contact with a second, large-pore supporting skeleton having a theoretical material density of less than 80% of theoretical specific density and a median pore diameter of more than 100 .mu.m.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for gas curing foundry cores includes an instrument system for attachment to a source of curing gas such as a gas generator. The system includes a signal generating section for providing a plurality of first signals. These signals represent the instantaneous mass flow rate of gas flowing to the core box. A counter/controller section is coupled to the signal generating section and totalizes the first signals. A valve device is coupled to the counter/controller section, opened to initiate the flow of gas to the core box and closed to terminate the flow of gas. The valve is opened upon receipt of a signal initiating the curing process and closed when the total of the first signals reaches a value representing a predetermined total mass of gas which has flowed to the core box. The improved method includes initiating flow of a gas to a core box containing raw cores to be cured. The gas includes a curing constituent, either in substantially pure form or mixed with a carrier gas.

Abstract: In the process and apparatus for making molds and cores, a casing for producing molds or cores is filled with a mixture of foundry sand and a binder. The mixture is hardened by a reagent which is firstly evaporated and introduced into the casing from a cylindrical container with a carrier gas or air flow supplied from a pressure gas source. The reagent is fed into the container by a dosing pump. A vacuum, or pressure below atmospheric pressure is produced in the container by a vacuum pump. The vacuum leads to the reagent evaporating more quickly than at atmospheric pressure. It is consequently possible to use reagents with a high boiling point, so that the hardening of the molds and cores is obtained less expensively and with reduced odorous annoyance.

Abstract: A process for vaporizing a liquid curing agent includes heating the liquid curing agent while it is stored in a container. Heat is delivered to the container by a heated fluid passed through a jacket which at least partially surrounds the storage container. After vaporization, the gaseous phase curing agent, usually methyl formate, methylal, or other gases, is delivered to one or more work stations where it is used in a curing reaction.

Abstract: An apparatus for surrounding a mold pattern in a mold flask with sand, the apparatus comprising a plurality of generally vertically extending tubes, a mechanism for securing the pattern to the tubes to form a tube and pattern assembly, a mechanism for lowering the assembly into the flask, a mechanism for depositing sand through the tubes and into the flask, and a mechanism for raising the tubes relative to the flask and to the pattern.

Abstract: A register system is provided for making molds for metal casting which reduces flaws attributable to parting line shift. This is accomplished by urging the cope mold flask (11) against two fixed stops (50, 52) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (54) on the short axis of the flask. This same register principle is applied in the drag mold making station 18, where the drag flask (15) is urged against two fixed stops (86, 88) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (90) on the short axis of the flask.

Abstract: A machine for making molds and molding cores (126) includes a pair of mold boxes (42a, 42b) removably mounted on a frame (60) for rotation between an upright, molding position in which molding mateiral is introduced into the molding cavity of the molding boxes (42a, 42b) by a carrier (26) and an inverted discharge position in which the mold (126) is removed from the boxes by a mold receiving assembly (76). A pressure head assembly (46) both compresses molding material within the molding cavity and introduces a catalyst gas into the cavity for curing the molding material. A system for removing the spent gas from the molding cavity includes a pair of gas receiving chambers (122a, 122b) integral with the frame (60) which receives gas through the bottom of the mold boxes (42a, 42b) and an exhaust assembly (68, 70) which is selectively coupled with exhaust ports (124a, 124b) in the chambers (122a, 122b ).

Abstract: A machine for making molds and molding cores (126) includes a pair of mold boxes (42a, 42b) removably mounted on a frame (60) for rotation between an upright, molding position in which molding material is introduced into the molding cavity of the molding boxes (42a, 42b) by a carrier (26) and an inverted discharge position in which the mold (126) is removed from the boxes by a mold receiving assembly (76). A pressure head assembly (46) both compresses molding material within the molding cavity and introduces a catalyst gas into the cavity for curing the molding material. A system for removing the spent gas from the molding cavity includes a pair of gas receiving chambers (122a, 122b) integral with the frame (60) which receives gas through the bottom of the mold boxes (42a, 42b) and an exhaust assembly (68, 70) which is selectively coupled with exhaust ports (124a, 124b) in the chambers (122a, 122b ).

Abstract: The device comprises a fixed gassing box (1) a moulding box (2) and a head (2A) for receiving and discharging gas. The box (2) is provided with a massive block (7) of aluminium which forms a pattern-plate and has a multitude of orifices (8) extending therethrough. This block has a sufficient thermal inertia to form a frozen crust as soon as the moulding box (2) is filled with a pre-moistened sand or the like. This permits obtaining a high rate of production of frozen moulds or cores having a very good surface condition, a good stability of shape and high and homogeneous mechanical properties.

Abstract: A register system is provided for making molds for metal casting which reduces flaws attributable to parting line shift. This is accomplished by urging the cope mold flask (11) against two fixed stops (50, 52) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (54) on the short axis of the flask. This same register principle is applied in the drag mold making station 18, where the drag flask (15) is urged against two fixed stops (100, 102) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (90) on the short axis of the flask. At the closer station (24), where the mold halves are assembled, they are again urged against two fixed stops (134, 136) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (142) on the short axis of the flasks. Thus the flasks are properly aligned to the patterns at the mold making stations, and again properly aligned to each other at the closer station, so as to eliminate parting line shift problems of the mold halves.