valamise

Valamise is a metalworking process in which molten material is poured into a mold and allowed to cool and solidify, taking the shape of the mold cavity. The term is commonly used in Estonian industry and education to refer to metal casting, though the general concept applies to other materials that can be formed by pouring.

The process typically involves melting the material, preparing a mold, pouring the molten metal into the mold, allowing it to solidify, and then removing the formed part from the mold. Mold types include expendable molds, such as sand or plaster molds, and permanent molds, such as metal or ceramic molds. Casting methods vary, including sand casting, investment casting (lost-wax), die casting (high-pressure metal molds), shell molding, and plaster-mase molds. Each method has implications for surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and production cost, and different alloys are paired with appropriate mold technologies.

Materials used in valamise range from ferrous and non-ferrous metals to alloys such as iron, steel, aluminum, magnesium, copper, bronze, and brass. Some polymers and ceramics can also be cast, though metals dominate industrial casting. Typical applications include automotive components, machinery parts, valves and housings, art objects, and consumer goods. Casting allows complex geometries that are difficult to achieve with machining alone and is frequently chosen for high-volume production or heavy shapes.

Quality considerations in valamise focus on defects such as porosity, shrinkage, cold shuts, misruns, and inclusions. Controlling factors include melt temperature, mold design and venting, gating, feed systems, and cooling rate. Post-processing steps may involve shakeout, profiling, cleaning, heat treatment, and surface finishing. Safety and environmental practices emphasize proper handling of molten metals, ventilation, and recycling of scrap material.