Castings Go Classical


From applications around the orchestra hall to those that actually make music, metal castings play a vital role in ensuring the symphony stays in tune.


AN MCDP STAFF REPORT


Timpani, large bowl-shaped copper drums, rest on suspension systems that allow the drums to resonate freely. These support structures can be cast aluminum (to reduce weight and simplify transport) or steel (to maximize strength).


An organ’s pipes are cast from a mixture of tin and lead. Metalcasters produce the pipes using a variation of continuous casting, in which they pour molten metal into a tray and draw it across an open table to produce a long, fl at sheet. Aged for a few months, the sheet is then cut, rolled, soldered and “voiced,” where the pipe’s opening is cut to precisely refi ne its tone.


20 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Sept/Oct 2014


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