Glossary of Casting Terminology "P"
This glossary lists in alphabetical order casting industry terms and their explanations.
| Word/Expression | Explanation |
|---|---|
| packaging | The appearance or shape of the container that a product is packaged or stored in for transport. |
| pallet | A platform used in logistics for transporting loads. A typical pallet is flat but many other types exist, e.g., box or slip sheet pallets. |
| palletainer | A generic name for box pallets made of steel mesh often used for packing, storing and transporting various items, including cast pieces. |
| parallelism | A geometric tolerance indicating that a flat surface or straight line that must be parallel in relation to the reference flat surface or straight line of the part, etc., is in fact parallel. |
| parting | The mating or separation line of casting molds. |
| parting plane | The mating or separation faces of casting molds. |
| pattern plate | A flat plate that becomes the base for positioning casting designs, cast piece shapes, etc. |
| peeling | The surface of a casting coming off during shotblasting, cutting operations, etc., due to oxides in the molten metal or a misrun during solidification. |
| penetration | A casting defect in core-based casting in which the molten metal penetrates the surface of the core for some reason. |
| phosphorizer | An iron tool with a typically open-holed conical end piece designed for feeding flux into the center of molten aluminum. The “phosphorizer” name refers to its function of handling phosphorus. |
| photocell | Used as a safety device in machines that open and close like casting machines or presses. It detects a human operator by making use of photoelectric effect to convert light energy into electric energy and can shut off the machine automatically to prevent accidents. |
| piping | A pipe, tube, hose, etc., that transports gasses or liquids like tap water. Also refers to the installation of these items. |
| pitsaw file | A common type of file. It often has a semi-circle shape, tapered toward the end and is suitable for finishing curved surfaces. It is used for machining on iron, steel and aluminum. |
| platen | A flat plate that receives the pressure of the casting machine in order to attach a mold. Platen types are either movable or stationary. |
| plating | A surface treatment using the principles of electrolysis to deposit a thin metallic film on the surface of a different metal material, etc. |
| plier | A metal tool with two jaws for pinching an object, e.g., wire or plate. In casting processes, it is often used for grasping or holding cast pieces at high temperatures. |
| plug | A bolt or the like used to close a screw hole or other holes. Typically used for closing cooling holes, suspension holes, etc. |
| plunger | A key part of a die casting machine's injection apparatus. The high-speed movement of the plunger in the sleeve causes the molten metal to be injected into the mold to fill it. |
| pneumatic belt sander | A compact, handheld type of belt sander suited for manual operation. |
| polishing | A finishing process that uses the corners or surface of sandpaper and other high-hardness items (sand) to intermittently polish the surface of a cast piece until it is smooth. |
| pore | A minute cavity formed inside cast pieces and one of the more common casting defects. |
| porosity; shrinkage cavity | A void or hole in a casting that typically indicates the presence of a casting defect, such as the shrinkage cavities that form as a casting shrinks during solidification due to insufficient supply of molten metal to portions slow to solidify, the blowholes caused by air entrapped during the casting process and the pinholes generated by gas in the molten metal. |
| port | An outlet through which unnecessary objects are discharged. |
| pouring | The process of pouring molten metal into the casting design portion and/or product cavity of a mold. |
| precipitation hardening | The process of aging a supersaturated solid solution to cause the compound to precipitate within the solid and thereby improve the mechanical properties of an alloy. |
| preheating | To heat molds and the like up to the desired temperature prior to casting by means of a gas burner or electric heater. |
| preheating burner | A gas combustion device for heating molds and the like up to the desired temperature prior to casting. |
| preheating shot | Continuing to pour molten metal into the mold once the casting process begins to warm the mold until it reaches the desired temperature. |
| pre-purge | To discharge unburnt gasses remaining in a holding furnace, heat treatment furnace, etc., with an exhauster for a set period of time before ignition in order to prevent any unused gas from exploding during furnace ignition. |
| pressure feed | In order to transport powders and the like to far-off areas, compressed air is used to move the powder together with air. Also, a pump, etc., can be used to apply pressure and transport a pressurized fluid through a pipeline or other duct. |
| pressure-reducing valve | When the pressure of gas or liquid in piping or a unit is too high for the intended use, this valve is used to reduce it and maintain the desired pressure. |
| pressure tightness | The ability of a die-cast piece, etc., to withstand a fluid substance such as a gas or liquid when injected under pressure and not result in leakage or breakage. |
| pressure-tight casting | A casting that is required to not show leakage or breakage when subjected to the liquid or gas pressures specified in its blueprints and has passed inspection. |
| primary crystal | The crystal formed prior to a eutectic point. In a hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy, the primary crystal silicon is first depositioned during solidification. |
| process capability | An indicator of the ability to run a successful production lot of a cast product with little deviation from the design's dimensions, etc., while adhering to the standards for casting production. Expressed as Cp or Cpk. |
| projected area | In high-pressure die casting and the like, this is the surface area of the product cavity and gating system when seen from the direction taken by the movable platen. |
| punch | A tool for making a dented marking before drilling a hole that serves as a guide and helps prevent the center of the drilling point from deviating. Punches are made from very hard materials and have a conical shape and tip to make the dented marking. |
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