UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

Programme : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical

Course : Manufacturing Processes Laboratory
Course Code : KJP 506
Lecturer : Pn Bulan Abdullah
______________________________________________________________________

Laboratory Report

Title of Experiment

Foundry – Sand Testing Preparation(GFN)

No
Name Student ID Number Signature
.
1. Mohd Salahuddin Bin Muhmed 2005757110

2. Mohd Khairul Syahrin Bin Zakaria 2005729712

Practical Session : 8th February 2007 Staff certification : ________________

(Signature)

Report Submission : 12th February 2007 Staff certification: ________________

(Signature)

1
 Contents

Page No:

1. Title
3

2. Objective
3

3. Literature Survey & Theory

3

4. Procedure 4

5. Results
5

6. Discussion
7

7. Conclusion 7

8. References 8

2
TITLE: SAND TESTING – GFN

OBJECTIVE: To find out the sand grain size and sand distribution

THEORY: The grain fineness number (GFN) is a quantitative indication of the grain size

and grain size distribution. To calculate the grain fineness number, each sieve

has been given a weightage factor which can be obtained from any foundry

text book. The amount retained on each sieve is multiplied by the respective

weightage factor, summed up, and then divided by the total mass of the

sample, which gives that grain fineness number. The same can be expressed as

GFN = ΣMi fi

Σfi

where; Mi = multiplying factor for the ith sieve

fi = amount of sand retained on the ith sieve

APPARATUS:

Measurement

SAND SIEVE SHAKER

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 Silica sand

PROCEDURE:

1. A 100 g sand sample which is devoid of moisture and clay such as the one

obtained after the previous testing is to be used.

2. The dried clay free sand grains are placed on the top of sieve of a shaker which

contains a series of sieves one upon the other with gradually decreasing mesh

sizes.

3. The 100 g of silica sand is placed on top of sieve.

4. The sieves than have been shaken continuously for a period of 15 minutes.

5. After the shaking operation, the sieves are taken apart and the send left over on

each of the sieve is carefully weighted.

6. The GFN for silica sand has been determined

4
RESULTS:

Sieve No. Weight (g)

20 0
30 0
40 0.07
50 0.56
70 15.17
100 32.36
140 26.96
200 13.94
270 6.12
Pan 4.15
Total 99.33

Sieve Multiplying Retained Retained Mi x fi Mi x P i

Number Factor, Mi Sample, fi (g) Percentage, Pi

20 10 0 0 0 0
30 20 0 0 0 0
40 30 0.07 0.07 2.10 2.10

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 50 40 0.56 0.56 22.40 22.40
70 50 15.17 15.27 758.50 763.50
100 70 32.63 32.85 2284.10 2299.50
140 100 26.96 27.14 2696.00 2714.00
200 145 13.94 14.03 2021.30 2034.35
270 200 6.12 6.16 1224.00 1232.00
Pan 300 4.15 4.18 1245.00 1254.00
Total 99.33 100 10253.40 10321.85

GFN = 10253.40 / 99.

= 103.23

GFN = 10321.85 / 100

= 103.22

%RETAINED VS SIEVE NUMBER

CUMULATIVE VS SIEVE NUMBER

DISCUSSIONS:
Base on the experiment, the value of GFN obtained is 103.23. The higher the GFN
number obtained the smaller the grain size. After the experiment being done, about 0.67g of
silica sand is lost. It might be happened because of error due to sand sieve shaker during
experiment. It is also might be lost on the surrounding during the transfer process. There is no
special device to control the amount on each sieves and only used manually operated to pour
it into measurement.
It is learned that different GFN will be used for different application. For instance 40-
large casting, 70-small casting, 100-non-ferous alloy, 150-alunium alloy casting. Therefore
base on the value GFN obtained, this type of sand is applied for small casting.
The graphs shown are the graph plotted for Graph (i) sieve number versus percentage
of mass retained in each graph. Graph (ii) sieve number versus cumulative percentage of mass
left in sieves. For Graph (i), as the sieve number increase, the percentage of mass retained
increase too. But as it reaches 100, it drops and at 200 it continues drop until 300 which is the
pan itself. The percentage at last sieve number is 4.18 and is the finest of the sand.

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CONCLUSION:
The experiment that had been done was a success. We managed to determine the GFN
of the sand which is 99.33. It is suitable for small casting.
The shape and the size of the sand does affect significantly to the properties of
molding sand. Small grain size provides a better surface finish on the cast part. However large
size is more permeable.

SUGGESTIONS:
To achieve or produce a high quality mould and casting, there are some properties of
the sand need to be considered. Such properties are the cohesiveness, refractoriness,
permeability and collapsibility.

REFERENCES:
1. P.N.Rao, Manufacturing Technology, Foundry, Forming and Welding, 2nd
Edition, Institut Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. McGraw Hill, 1998.
2. Seropa Kalpakjian, Steven R.Schmid , Manufacturing Engineering And

Technology, Prentice Hall International.