1. A pattern is a replica of the object to be cast that is used to prepare the cavity in the mold into which molten material will be poured.
2. There are several types of patterns used in foundries depending on the casting requirements, including solid, split, match plate, cope and drag, loose piece, gated, sweep, skeleton, and follow board patterns.
3. Match plate patterns are well-suited for mass production as they allow for highly automated molding with minimal manual work required.