Valumuotti

Valumuotti is a mold used in casting processes to shape molten materials into a final form. It is designed to withstand high temperatures and allow the material to flow, fill, and solidify. In metalworking and foundry work, valumuotti can be made from various materials including sand, ceramic, graphite, and metal. The choice depends on the material to be cast, the required surface finish, tolerances, and production volume. A typical valumuotti consists of a mold cavity in which the pattern is placed to define the external shape, and may include cores to create internal features. The mold is formed around the pattern, the pattern is removed, gates and runners are added to enable pouring, and the mold is assembled or closed before pouring molten metal or plastic.

After pouring and cooling, the solidified part is removed from the mold (shakeout). Depending on mold type, the removal may be destructive (as with sand or ceramic molds) or non-destructive for permanent metal molds. Molds must be designed to minimize defects such as gas porosity, shrinkage, cold shuts, and surface roughness. Maintenance includes cleaning, repairing minor damage, and, for reusable molds, protecting against corrosion.

Valumuotti is used across industries for prototyping and high-volume production, including automotive, machinery, and consumer goods. The term is primarily used in Finnish-speaking contexts and aligns with the broader concept of casting molds.