Ronald L Gustafson

US Patent:

6386264, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Aug 1, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/920359

Inventors:

Ronald Gustafson - Rockford IL 61103

International Classification:

B22C 902

US Classification:

164 17

Abstract:

A method for machining a sand core, a cope, a drag or other molding element from a block of sand held together by binder material for use in foundry metal casting operations. The sand block is cut preferably with a diamond or carbide cutting bit of a computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tool to cut a pattern into the sand block. A machine tool may be a mill, lathe, drill press, or other machine tool as appropriate. The sand block may be clamped in a variety of positions, and reference points are used to locate the sand block during each subsequent clamping and reclamping of the sand block to the various machine tools. The machined sand core is then inserted into a mold and used in foundry operations to create an internal cavity in a metal casting.

US Patent:

6554056, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/025246

Inventors:

Ronald L. Gustafson - Rockford IL 61103

International Classification:

B22C 900

US Classification:

164456, 164137

Abstract:

A method of forming prototype metal castings by forming and modifying one or more sand mold elements of a sand mold assembly. The method includes molding and patterning sand into shapes of the sand mold elements and then forming a first metal casting by filling the internal cavity of the first sand mold assembly with molten metal material. The first metal casting is evaluated for strength or other desirable characteristics. Once a defect is noted the sand mold elements are modified by machining sand away from at least one of the sand mold elements of a later formed sand mold assembly to modify the shape of the internal cavity between mold elements. Machining modifications are determined from evaluating the first metal casting. Then a modified metal casting is made by filling the modified internal cavity of the modified sand mold assembly with molten metal material.

US Patent:

62865811, Sep 11, 2001

Filed:

Jul 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/363128

Inventors:

Ronald Gustafson - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B22C 902

US Classification:

164 17

Abstract:

A method for machining a sand core, a cope, a drag or other molding element from a block of sand held together by binder material for use in foundry metal casting operations. The sand block is cut preferably with a diamond or carbide cutting bit of a computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tool to cut a pattern into the sand block. A machine tool may be a mill, lathe, drill press, or other machine tool as appropriate. The sand block may be clamped in a variety of positions, and reference points are used to locate the sand block during each subsequent clamping and reclamping of the sand block to the various machine tools. The machined sand core is then inserted into a mold and used in foundry operations to create an internal cavity in a metal casting.