Match Plate Pattern - Used in Casting (With diagram)

What is Match - Plate Pattern 

The match plate pattern is almost similar to the mounted pattern but it can have part of the casting in the cope and part in the drag like split piece pattern. These parts are generally attached to the plate / board in opposite sides in the perfect positions. When the plate is removed and mold is in close position the cavities in the cop and drag match perfectly. The mounting procedure matches the procedure of one sided mounted plate.

schematic of match plate pattern

Characteristics of Match Plate Pattern 

• It is split pattern 
• Cop and Drags on the opposite site of the metallic (generally) plate. 
• The gates are runners are on the match plate. 
• Can be used for large number of casting with very little hand work. 
• A match plate can be single pattern or a combination of many small patterns
• Example : IC engine piston rings can be produced by match plate pattern 

Important parts of Match Plate Patterns  

Cope and Drag Mounts

• Two separate pattern mounts are there.
• One is fitted to the female guides (for drag) other is fitted with pins (for cope). This must match the profile of the flask that is used.
• The half part of the pattern associated by the cope is attached to the cope mount and drag part pattern is attached to the drag mount.
• Cope and drag portions are manufactured disparately and combined together for pouring.
• Generally one molder makes copes other makes drags.
• Cope and drag mounts are also known as tubes.
• These (cope and drag mounts) are very similar when producing large castings. 

cope and drag mounts in match plate pattern 

Follow board

• It is a board with a cavity or socket.
• The cavity must conform to the shape of the pattern.
• It also defines the parting surface of the drag.
• Materials: It can be made of plaster or metal. If sand is used to manufacture follow board then it is called dry sand match.
• When the drag half of the mold is made the pattern rests on the follow board.
• It creates the correct sand parting.
• Pattern is rammed in the drag and follow board is removed.
• The follow board is replaced by the cope.
• A simple follow board may have a hole in it so that the pattern rests firmly when the drag is being rammed.   

follow board

simple follow board

Please Read :

• Different types of casting defects 
• What is casting ? Main application of castings 
• different types of patterns that are used on the sand casting process. 
• different types of molding sand
• properties of various natural and synthetic molding sands
• Comparison of different casting processes. 
• Advantages and disadvantages of centrifugal castings.