Which of the following statements describes a step in the sand casting process?

• A. The sprue is cut off and the component finished.
• B. Molten metal is poured into a metal mold.
• C. The pattern is melted to form the pattern.
• D. The mold is used without finishing the component.

Answer: (A)

In sand casting, after the metal has cooled and the casting is removed from the mold, you cut off the sprue and finish the component. The sprue is the channel through which molten metal enters the mold, and once the casting is set, that channel is removed and the casting is cleaned up—trimmed to size, deburred, and surface-finished as needed. This step is when the part becomes the final product, ready for any additional machining or finishing required.

The other statements don’t fit because the mold is made of sand, not metal, so molten metal isn’t poured into a metal mold in this process. The pattern is used to shape the sand around it to form the mold, not melted. And the mold is removed after casting, with finishing typically needed to achieve final dimensions and surface quality.