Why is Centrifugal Casting Better for Your Metal Tubes?

Author: Ingrid

Jul. 29, 2024

Why is Centrifugal Casting Better for Your Metal Tubes?

Centrifugal casting is a highly efficient manufacturing process for creating hollow cylindrical parts that are economical and offer superior soundness. It&#;s also a process that is often either unknown or misunderstood.

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From the different types available to the varying industry applications, this article will explore the ins and outs of how centrifugal casting works, how your company will benefit from it, and what components it can produce.

Here is a quick video covering what you will read below:

What is centrifugal casting?

Centrifugal casting involves pouring molten metal into a quickly rotating cylinder-shaped mold. A centrifugal force is created by the rapid rotation, which pushes the metal towards the inside wall, where it cools and solidifies. The result is a fine grain tube that can be machined into various components.

Types of centrifugal casting

There are two types of centrifugal casting processes: vertical and horizontal. Both types rely on a spinning mold creating a centrifugal force to form the desired cast.

The resulting parts are in demand within industries like mining, steel, energy, water treatment, oil and gas, and other sectors requiring hollow, cylindrical forms or components obtainable from such a form.

The casting process is performed using the horizontal method in most cases, explained in further detail below.

How does the centrifugal casting process work?


1. MELT:
Metals have a higher melting point than most other materials and reach a molten (liquid) state when exposed to high temperatures. The wall thickness of the metal casting is controlled by the amount of material added during the pouring phase.

2. CAST: Next, the molten metal is poured into a rapidly rotating, cylinder-shaped mold as it slowly starts to cool down. Since large forces press the molten material for the cast part against the mold wall, good surface finish and detail are characteristic of the process.

3. SPIN: The energy produced from the spinning forces the material to conform to the shape of the mold. Impurities, such as metal inclusions and trapped air, collect in the lower density inner regions of cylindrical parts cast by this process.

4. REMOVE: From there, the process exerts pressure that pushes impurities to the center of the axis of rotation. Pure, dense material is left behind once the impurities are machined out of these inner regions.

5. FINISH: The end products produced are unyielding and defect-free and can be machined to suit custom or standard size requests. This method can make substantial metal castings. Many sizes of cylindrical pipes can be manufactured using this technique.

What&#;s the advantage of centrifugal casting?

While hot extruded tubing, forged tubing, rolled and welded tubing, even tubing machined from bar stock are sometimes used to create tubes, centrifugal casting continually proves to be a reliable and cost-effective solution, easily replacing other methods.

It&#;s a casting process that is very well suited for the manufacture of hollow cylindrical tubes because the forces used in this method guarantee good adhesion of the casting material to the surface of the mold.

Greg Whitman, Vice President of Sales and Engineering at Spuncast metal foundry, explains that centrifugal casting creates better quality tubes because of its dynamic nature.

&#;The centrifugal casting process is moving &#; constantly spinning. That forces the metal into the naturally forming voids that other castings would have. Therefore it&#;s better quality than something static,&#; he said.

&#;In a static or non-moving cast process, there&#;s nothing dynamic happening. You&#;re dumping molten metal into a shape, and it comes out solid when it cools off,&#; he said.

Three good reasons to use centrifugal casting for your metal components

1. It&#;s a process that creates high production cost-efficiency.

Experienced foundries like Spuncast, which have operated in centrifugal castings for over 45 years, use various raw materials like high and low alloy steels, stainless grades, and duplex metals.

The efficiency of the process and the methods they use reduces defective and, therefore, rejected parts. The material produced is denser and less porous, often allowing up to 90% of the material to be recovered.

Methods like cutting shorter parts to be cast in multiples and then cut to desired lengths is one such practice that has been proven to produce many needed parts, all from a single casting. Intelligent processes like that require less metal and produce less waste creating improved production cost-efficiency. 

2. The mechanical properties can have approximately 30% greater strength.

Following through with better foundry practices is essential in every phase of the process to get a better metal part. During the pouring and solidification phase of centrifugal casting, tapping into the forces involved plays a significant role in the superior properties of the castings manufactured.

If done correctly, the outer surface areas will have a higher density than the inner surface areas and result in a seamless, more robust cylinder. Because of the very fine grain outer surface produced in this phase, the mechanical properties can have approximately 30% greater strength than parts formed with static casting methods.

The diagram below from the Library of Manufacturing shows how the forces are more significant the further away they get from the center of rotation. 

3. A constant centrifugal force pushes out impurities that can be easily removed.

The metal&#;s density is higher than most of the impurities within the material, which means contaminants like slag, dirt, and drops that have a lower density spin to the core or center.  As part of the casting operation, the impurities are removed or machined off later.

The rate of the mold rotation during manufacturing must be carefully calculated to get this desired effect. The spinning speed is determined by considering the mold dimensions and the metal used in the process.

The rapid spin fills any shrinkage voids by creating high pressure and putting the material under a constant centrifugal force.

What are some centrifugal casting applications?

There are numerous applications that benefit from the centrifugal casting method. From roll bodies to centrifuges, the process reliably yields greater part strength, higher product purity, and better cost-effectiveness.

The flexibility of centrifugal casting helps consistently repeat the application advantages. Some of the more specific benefits of each application are listed below.

Roll bodies

Centrifugal castings are an obvious fit for roll bodies because they are formed round, concentric, and free from mid-wall voids. Centrifugal force assures uniform wall thickness and extremely close concentricity that can be further enhanced by surface machining.

Advantage: Prevents deformations and weak points in roll bodies
Industry Applications: Steel Mills, Glass Mills, Roller Hearth Furnaces, Any Application Requiring Balance and Performance

Pump & valve components

All steel alloys and tubular geometry makes centrifugal casting a natural fit for pump and valve applications. With machining, designs can be taken from raw stock to finish and ready for assembly.

It&#;s an excellent solution for OEM pump and valve manufacturers looking for replacements as well as custom designs and aftermarket replacement parts.

Advantage: Creates consistent, superior strength steel pump and valve components
Industry Applications Mining, Infrastructure and Building Control, Cooling Systems and Heat Transfer, Defense, Fire Prevention, Fluid Handling, and Chemical Storage, Food and Beverage, Water Treatment, Power Generation, and more

Hydraulic cylinders

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Hydraulic systems must work under severe pressures, which means increasing individual component design details becomes more important and costly.

Because the centrifugal casting manufacturing operation produces metal cast parts without the need for sprues, risers, or other gating system elements like forging uses, it&#;s a very efficient industrial process that saves production costs while still producing solid components.

Advantages: Offers a cost-saving alternative to forging for hydraulic cylinders
Industry Applications: Mining, Scrap Metal Processing, Industrial Presses, and In-Process Components, OEM Replacements, Aftermarket Repair

Centrifuges

High-speed rotating equipment like centrifuges rely on a consistent density and shape for balance. Because centrifugal casting produces seamless, uniformly strong results, it&#;s a perfect process for this application. 

Centrifugal castings keep their symmetrical shape, and the fine grain structure results in producing products like centrifuge bowls, conical sections, and scroll shafts.

Advantages: Can make quick, reliable solutions for centrifuges
Industry Applications: Oil & Gas, Water Processing, Food Separation, Liquid Clarification, Waste Processing, and more

An experienced foundry makes the difference

Though centrifugal casting has been proven to produce strong, reliable parts, the process is only as good as the foundry behind it.  Forty-five years of experience means Spuncast metal foundry not only knows the best practices for centrifugal casting, but we also know a lot about meeting customer expectations.

We offer heat treatment, CNC machining, and metallurgical expertise in addition to making high-caliber stainless steel cylinders on time and at the best possible price. With over 200 alloys to choose from, we&#;ll help you find the best material properties that fit your application perfectly too.

Vertical Continuous Casting Machine

Chapter 1:

Metal Casting Basics

Metal casting is a common manufacturing process used to pour molten metal into a mold, allowing it to solidify and form the desired parts or products. Metal casting is a complex manufacturing process that involves considerations such as material selection, mold design, melting control, casting process, and post-processing. Proper operation and control are crucial to ensure the quality and performance of the castings.

1.1, Metal casting processes

Metal casting is a frequently used manufacturing process that uses a number of techniques, such as:

When using a sand mould to make a casting, molten metal is poured into the mould once it has been prepared. The casting is taken from the mould after solidification.

Metal Mould Casting: Using a metal mould to create the casting.

Die Casting: Rapid solidification is achieved by injecting molten metal under high pressure into a metal mould.

Using the power of gravity, molten metal is poured into a mould.

Continuous Casting: Continuous manufacturing involves continuously pouring molten metal into moulds using a variety of continuous casting tools.

Low-pressure casting is the process of casting molten metal at low pressure.

1.2, What are the common machines used in jewelry casting

  • Wax Injector
  • Burnout Furnace
  • Casting Machine
  • Melting Furnace
  • Polishing Machine
  • Continuous Casting Machine
  • Centrifugal Casting Machine

Chapter 2:

How to Choose a Continuous Casting Machine

When selecting a continuous casting machine, you must consider the following factors: production capacity, materials to be cast, equipment quality, technical support, and cost-effectiveness.

2.1, Advantages of Continuous Casting Machines

Casting in a vacuum environment helps to improve casting quality by reducing the impact of gas and contaminants. It is frequently employed for producing high-performance casHigh Productivity: Compared to batch casting techniques, continuous casting machines enable the continuous casting process, which boosts manufacturing productivity.

High-Quality Products: Continuous casting improves product quality and consistency by allowing for better control over the solidification process, producing castings that are more consistent and free from flaws.

Cost savings: Continuous casting machines minimise the quantity of moulds needed for each casting, minimising material waste and cutting material prices, ultimately resulting in cost efficiency.

Enhancement of safety: By eliminating physical handling of molten metal, continuous casting lowers the danger of accidents and injuries associated with conventional casting techniques.

Increased Flexibility: Continuous casting machines can produce castings of different shapes and sizes, allowing for customisation and production flexibility.

Resource Conservation: Continuous casting reduces waste production, which encourages resource conservation and environmental sustainability. It also reduces material waste.tings.

2.2, Why is continuous casting machine used in jewelry casting?

Continuous casting machines have been widely applied in the jewelry industry. They enable efficient production and cost savings while producing high-quality jewelry castings. Additionally, continuous casting machines offer excellent safety performance.

2.3, Benefits of a Vertical Continuous Casting Machine

Vertical Continuous Casting Machine offers high flexibility, allowing for the production of castings in different shapes and sizes. It provides production flexibility and customization options. The machine produces castings of high and consistent quality, making it particularly suitable for the production of fine jewelry.

Chapter 3:

SuperbMelt Continuous Casting Machine Manufacturers

With our Vertical Continuous Casting Machine, which is made exclusively for making high-quality jewellery, SuperbMelt serves jewellery producers. To satisfy all of your jewellery processing requirements, we provide a variety of jewellery casting machines, including melting furnaces, chain-making equipment, and vacuum casting machines.

In addition to our state-of-the-art equipment, we offer flawless after-sales support, including round-the-clock customer care and on-site technical support.

Choose SuperbMelt for your jewellery production needs to enjoy the ideal fusion of cutting-edge technology, dependable equipment, and first-rate customer service.

Are you interested in learning more about Vertical Centrifugal Casting Machine? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

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