Staff from the American Foundry Society took Foundry in a Box on the road to James B. Conant High School, Schaumburg, Illinois, on Feb. 7 to share the metalcasting industry with fifth and sixth grade girls as part of the District 211 Girls in Engineering, Math and Science (GEMS) Conference.
During the event, staff introduced the metalcasting process to five sessions of 20 girls with a short video and a hands-on demonstration of Foundry in a Box, during which each girl made a sand mold, poured molten tin and cleaned a casting. Patterns came in a variety of shapes, including anchor, frog, butterfly, turtle, and whale.
The hands-on nature of the sessions provided the opportunity for the participants to ask pointed questions about the science and engineering behind how cast metal components are made. Each girl was able to take home the metalcasting she made, along with job and school information pertaining to pursuing a career in metalcasting.
To watch a video capturing the event, click here.
The American Foundry Society is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1896. With its headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., AFS provides members and consumers with information and services to promote and strengthen the metalcasting industry.