Abstract: A method is provided for accurately and easily measuring properties of sand. This method includes the steps of measuring contraction properties of the sand, determining a molding parameter for molding a test piece of the sand having a known size based on the measurements of the contraction properties before the test piece is press-molded, press-molding the test piece by compacting a feed of the sand in accordance with the molding parameter, and measuring the properties of the sand by measuring properties of the test piece.

Abstract: After sand of one layer is loaded into a sand layer elevator (20), a shading mask (38) is positioned above the sand, and a diffused laser beam is irradiated from a diffused laser irradiating source (16). Thereby, a predetermined range of sand under the shading mask (38) is exposed and this exposed portion is cured. This operation is repeated for a predetermined number of sand layers and cured portions are piled up to directly form a 3-D sand mould. Particularly, a diffused laser beam is used to cure a wide range of sand at a time, thereby making sand mould mass-production possible.