The Versatile VCAT-II tests green sand in-line at the moulding machine – compactability, moisture, permeability and strength in 12-22 s – with live display and alarms, set-point feedback to the mixer and automatic mould rejection on LCL/UCL. Part of the V-CAT plant-control system, with V-Sync cloud and SCADA.
VCAT-II Online Compactability, Moisture, Permeability & Mould Strength Testing System
Description
VCAT-II Online Green Sand Testing & Control System
See the whole system: VCAT-II is one node in the V-CAT online green sand testing and control system – mixer to mould.
The Versatile VCAT-II tests green sand in-line at the moulding machine, automatically extracting a sample from the stream and reporting compactability, estimated moisture, mould permeability and strength in seconds – live on a shop-floor display, with alarms, feedback to the mixer and mould rejection. It is part of the V-CAT (Versatile Controller & Tester) family that instruments and controls the whole green-sand plant.
What it tests – and how fast
- Compactability (squeezing type)
- Estimated moisture (electrical properties correlated to moisture)
- Mould permeability
- Strength – mould strength (penetration type) or green compression strength
Typical testing time is 12-15 seconds without permeability and 15-22 seconds with permeability – frequent enough to test as often as every mould (cope and drag separately), or at any lower frequency you set.
Why test at the moulding machine?
Even when compactability is controlled at the mixer, the sand changes on its way to the mould – line stoppages add time delay, the distance from mixer to moulding matters, sand temperature rises from mixing, and ambient temperature and humidity drift through the day and the seasons. Testing at the point of use gives you a second, closer feedback loop where it actually counts.
Closed-loop control and mould rejection
After each test the VCAT-II shows the result and raises an alarm on deviation, sends immediate set-point feedback to the mixer compactability controller, and drives a mould-rejection marking output based on your LCL/UCL limits – so out-of-spec moulds are flagged and rejected automatically.
Networking & data
A LAN links all systems for fast, reliable communication. The V-Sync system syncs readings to the cloud (your account on sandtesting.org) or a local server, and an optional SCADA stores readings locally. Pattern numbers can be updated from an optional input device.
Key features
- In-line, automatic sampling and testing at the moulding machine
- Four parameters – compactability, moisture, permeability, strength – in 12-22 s
- Live shop-floor display with alarm on out-of-spec results
- Set-point feedback to the mixer compactability controller
- Mould-rejection marking I/O based on LCL/UCL
- V-Sync cloud sync, local server or optional SCADA; LAN networked
- Part of the V-CAT plant-control ecosystem (mixer, cooler, water dosing)
Technical specifications
| Tests | Compactability, estimated moisture, mould permeability, strength (mould/green compression) |
|---|---|
| Cycle time | 12-15 s (without permeability); 15-22 s (with permeability) |
| Test frequency | Up to every mould (cope & drag separately); user-configurable |
| Control outputs | Alarm; mixer compactability feedback; mould-rejection marking I/O (LCL/UCL) |
| Data | V-Sync cloud (sandtesting.org) or local server; optional SCADA; LAN |
| Placement | At the moulding machine (VCAT-II); mixer position available as VCAT-III |
Related guides & resources
- Foundry sand testing equipment calibration
- VSync – live cloud monitoring & SCADA stream every reading and check it against spec
Manufactured and serviced by Versatile – trusted by 9,000+ foundry customers worldwide since 1966. Contact us to scope an installation for your line.
Additional information
| Weight | 100 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 100 × 30 × 100 cm |
| Model Code | VCAT-II |
