Talk:Molding (process)

Powder metallurgy
Is this really a molding process? My instincts say no, but I don't have any references to back it up right now. Wizard191 (talk) 18:31, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
 * How about piece-molding and lost-wax molding? Igor Skoglund
 * Lost wax is a casting (metalworking) process. Wizard191 (talk) 16:38, 25 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Thank you Igor Skoglund
 * Lost-wax casting (more generically, investment casting involves the production of a ceramic mold, so it wouldn't entirely be inappropriate in this article. -Verdatum (talk) 20:45, 25 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Powder metallurgy can be a molding process if we are talking about Metal Injection Molding. -James Monroe (talk) 20:12, 7 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Powdered metals are routinely forced into molds, then sintered, and thus are a molding process. The application of the term "powder metallurgy" is inaccurate, but happened anyway. Go figure! It is being replaced by more accurate terms like "compaction plus sintering," as listed here, as powdered metals are used in more applications. Wilhkar (talk) 19:19, 28 February 2010 (UTC)wilhkar
 * Hrm, I've never heard the term "compaction plus sintering", but I also don't deal with that area of manufacturing often. I don't agree with the concept that if something uses a mold it is a molding process; for example, casting uses molds, but it is not a molding process. Wizard191 (talk) 13:56, 1 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Comment -- It sounds to me as if powder metallurgy is not the best term, but that there is a process involving powdered metal that ought to appear. Peterkingiron (talk) 23:22, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

Casting & moulding
What's the difference? Is there a difference? My feeling is that casting takes place at atmospheric pressure, and involves liquids which flow easily, whereas moulding involves more viscous stuff that needs additional pressure beyond its own weight to move it. On that basis powder metallurgy is only moulding if coining and stamping are also moulding, as thepowder flows freely into the die and is only then subject to higher forces. Difficult, innit? Gravuritas (talk) 11:35, 7 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I suspect you are right, but having come from lost-wax casting, and seeing that there is only Mold (cooking implement) to cover all forms of mold/mould, I think this article (since it is so short) would be better renamed Mold (manufacturing) so that it can cover all types of process in a top-level way. Pottery made by pressing clay into a mould is certainly moulding not casting.  Johnbod (talk) 03:48, 13 December 2013 (UTC)