A great kickoff to the Fall 2024 semester

Stadium Casting

Group at 9/17/2024 meeting

 

Although it might not be apparent from this website (which hasn’t been updated in a while), Foundry Club is still active and creating consistently. I’m a new member of the board (that page will be updated shortly), and I’ll try to keep this site up to date since it is a helpful way to document our activities. We’ve had another successful return this semester, with an impressive member turnout and exceptional casting results at our first floor meeting (9/17/2024).

As we usually do at the beginning of every semester, we cast aluminum stadiums and chess pieces. One full set of stadiums and two sets of chess pieces were completed. We also threw in the gator for gaffs. This is more casting than we would fit into a normal meeting; we had to mix a second batch of sand to pack four molds. This provided plenty of opportunities for hands-on involvement from club members and exposure to all parts of the mold prep process.

Chess Piece Castings

Alligator Nutcracker Casting

The team that worked on the stadiums did an amazing job. It was a 6/6 winner, to say the very least, as all stadiums came out unusually crisp, clean and defect-free – the highest quality outcome of this pattern we’ve ever seen!

The team that worked on the chess sets did a good job as well, with a majority of pieces coming out well-defined, with minimal flash. However, some sand stuck to the pattern, leaving an unwanted cavity that merged pieces/erased some detail. This occurred in both attempts. More talc powder on the surfaces between pieces should help with this in the future, as well as more uniform ramming.

The alligator did not turn out as well. It’s a tough pattern for us to get right every year because its rough surface is easy for even under-moistened sand to stick to. One day, we will master you, gator. One day.

That summarizes tonight’s activities. People are already sharing their project ideas and showing interest in Cast in Steel 2025, which means we’ll be taking a stab at George Washington’s Swords. We’re excited to see it.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, it was a blast! Stay tuned for updates and a future meeting schedule in our Groupme chat.

Until next time,

NA

 

Looking back on last fall

Last semester, foundry club was lucky to visit two impressive foundries. In November, we made separate trips to PCC airfoils in Minerva, OH and Adalet Enclosure Systems in Cleveland, OH. AFS Central Ohio Chapter members joined us for the Adalat tour and lunch.

Adalet: OSU foundry club students, AFS COC members and Adalet Engineers.

If you or your company is interested in hosting OSU foundry students for a tour, please contact the current chair (information found on officer page).

April 2022 Visit to ASK Chemicals

In early April 2022, foundry club students visited ASK Chemicals in Dublin, OH. As part of our collaboration efforts with AFS and FEF, we frequently tour foundries and foundry industry companies. This semester we toured ASK Chemicals, a foundry supply company that specializes in products supporting the sand casting industry.

 

If you or your company is interested in hosting OSU foundry students for a tour, please contact the current chair (information found on officer page).

January 2022 AFS Scholarship Night

This past January 2022, the AFS Central Ohio Chapter gave scholarships to foundry club students at Ohio State. This year, four students received scholarships from AFS COC totaling $4,500. At our annual scholarship night with AFS COC, the scholarships were presented to our students in-person this year as we begin resuming normal activities. These scholarships are awarded based on student involvement and interest in the foundry club and foundry industry. Congratulations to this year’s AFS scholarship recipients!

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Scholarship winners: Nathan Becker (4 from right), James Braun (6 from right), Chase Lanier (7 from right), and Emmanuel Chen (not pictured). Student representatives: Michael Moodispaw – Chair (3 from right), Liam Clink (2 from right).

Fall 2021 Kickoff

Welcome new students joining the club this semester. You can find all the information you need about the club through this website.

 

We have been invited to tour an Aluminum foundry near Cleveland Ohio this semester, If you are interested in touring a working foundry, please fill out this short form.

 

If you are interested in designing your own casting, look over our previous projects page for some reference. At our first meeting we will talk about design projects, so please sketch up your ideas for reference at the meeting. More information about the meeting will come soon through our email list system which can be found here.

OSU Return to in-person activities

Ohio State recently announced a return to limited in-person activities for student organizations. The OSU Foundry Club is working on a plan to host small groups of members in the MacQuigg foundry for in-person foundry activities this semester. If you are interested in participating in our in-person events this semester (SP21), please attend our next meeting (meeting time to be confirmed) and fill out your availability for the meeting.

January 2021 AFS Scholarship Winners

At the AFS Scholarship meeting in January, three scholarships were awarded to Foundry Club students! Every year the Central Ohio Chapter of AFS awards scholarships to the students at Ohio State. This year there were three recipients from the club: Millo Gill (Dec 2020 graduate and second time winner), Zander Wigney (junior), Milo Gill (junior), James Braun (junior). Scholarships are awarded based on interest in aspects of the foundry industry as well as involvement with our club. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

AFS Scholarship Night

Last night at the AFS Scholarship meeting, four scholarships were awarded to Foundry Club students! Every year the Central Ohio Chapter of AFS awards scholarships to the students at Ohio State. This year there were four recipients from the club: Sarah Ridgeway (senior), Try Lewis (senior), Milo Gill (junior), Rebecca Vilcheck (junior). Scholarships are awarded based on interest in casting operations and involvement with the club. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

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Ohio State – Skuld First Ductile Iron Heat

The Light Metals Manufacturing and Research Group (LMMRL) is collaborating with Skuld to cast thin walled ductile iron for light weighting of automotive vehicles. This marks the first time that iron has been poured at The Ohio State Foundry in 10 years.  The casting effort was conducted by members of the LMMRL, Foundry Club and Skuld.  Check out some of the photos from our the first pour and stay tuned for more information!

OSU-Skuld Collaboration Relining Furnace for Ductile Iron!

The Ohio State University and Skuld LLC (http://skuldllc.com/) were recently awarded funding from the United States DOE to study reduced wall thickness in Ductile Iron. In doing so The Ohio State University Foundry is back on-line for pouring ferrous materials again!  Take a look at some of our images from our relining of our Iron Furnace and Ladle!