Foundry & Forging worked example

Casting Solidification Window with available mold-occupancy and cooling window of 4.5 hr: a worked example

This worked example runs the casting solidification window numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: available mold-occupancy and cooling window of 4.5 hr instead of the typical 9 hr. Check whether cooling and solidification time fits the available mold, flask, conveyor, or shakeout window.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Available mold-occupancy and cooling window: 4.5 hr (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 9)
  • Required solidification and cooling time: 6.5 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Shakeout handling and safety buffer: 1 hr (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Remaining casting solidification window buffer = available cooling or mold window - required solidification and cooling time - handling and safety buffer.
  • Inside window works out to 0 outside at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Nearest margin works out to -2 value at these inputs.
  • Lower limit works out to 6.5 value at these inputs.
  • Upper limit works out to 1 value at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where available mold-occupancy and cooling window sits at 9 hr and the headline result is 0 outside, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 0 outside.
  • Use it when scheduling pour-to-shakeout timing on a tight mold line, validating a new casting's cooling requirement against takt, or troubleshooting hot-pull scrap. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Inside window: 0 outside (headline result)
  • Nearest margin: -2 value
  • Lower limit: 6.5 value
  • Upper limit: 1 value

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Casting Solidification Window calculator, set available mold-occupancy and cooling window to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.