Match Plate Pattern

Large-quantity production of small castings requires match-plate patterns or more specialized types of pattern equipment. The cope and drag portions of the pattern are mounted on opposite sides of a wood or metal plate conforming to the parting line. Match plates are also integrally cast in which cast pattern and plate are cast as one piece in sand or plaster molds. It is used with some type of molding machine, in order to obtain maximum speed of molding. Advantages of the patterns are:
(a) Costly but good production rate
(b) Increase the dimensional accuracy

The match plate is the same as the mounted pattern with the exception that when you have part of the casting in the cope and part in the drag (split pattern), these parts are attached to the board or plate opposite each other and in the correct location so that when the plate is removed and the mold is closed the cavities in the cope and drag match up correctly. The molding procedure is the same as a one sided mounted plate.
In most cases all the necessary gating runners, etc., are built right on the plate. The match plate might have only one pattern or a large quantity of small patterns.
The principle of the matchplate, meaning pattern plates with two patterns on each side of the same plate, was developed and patented in 1910, fostering the perspectives for future sand molding improvements. However first in the early sixties the American company Hunter Automated Machinery Corporation launched its first automatic flaskless, horizontal molding line applying the matchplate technology.