What describes the use of molds to create castings from liquid metal?

The choice of sand casting is indeed a fitting description for the process of using molds to create castings from liquid metal. In sand casting, a mold is formed from sand, which is then packed around a pattern of the object to be created. After removing the pattern, the mold cavity is filled with molten metal. Once the metal cools and solidifies, the sand mold is broken apart to reveal the casting. This method is widely used due to its versatility, low cost, and the ability to create complex shapes that can be produced in a relatively short time frame.

Other methods like die casting involve forcing molten metal into a mold under high pressure and are typically used for production of parts in large quantities due to their quick processing time but are less versatile than sand casting for complex designs. Sheet metal forming and extrusion are processes that involve shaping metal into sheets or pushing material through a die, respectively, but do not involve creating castings from liquid metal in a mold.