Summary
Centrifugal casting is a metal casting process carried out vertically or horizontally in the foundry industry. They are used to produce hollow parts like pipes and other parts with thin-walled cylinders.
Centrifugal casting is used to cast materials like metal, glass, and concrete, although high quality is attainable by control of metallurgy and crystal structure. The process begins with molten metal being poured into a preheated, spining die which is done in either vertical or horizontal axis depending on the configuration of the desired part.
Centrifugal casting allows mass production of symmetrical products at lower costs. The casting process eliminates defects such as blowholes, shrinkage cavities, and gas pocket. Also, impurities are easily removed because they are all collected at the center of the mold. Learn the working principle of centrifugal casting here!
Different Types of Centrifugal Casting and their Working Principle
Now, let’s go deep to explain what centrifugal casting is, its applications, diagram, advantages, and disadvantages!
Contents
What is Centrifugal Casting?
Centrifugal casting is a metal casting process in which molten metal is poured into a continuous rotating mold, thrown outward from the center with a centrifugal force. It is designed to vertically or horizontally rotate, depending on the type of casting. The horizontal type of centrifugal casting is implied when producing thin cylinder parts. While the vertically mounted machine is used in producing automotive smaller parts.
In the process, molten metal is poured into a preheated, spining die, oriented either on a horizontal or vertical axis. The layout is determined by the configuration of the desired part.
The mol is spinned and the molten metal is poured into it. This centrifugal force acts to distrubute the molten metal in the mold at a pressure 100 times the force of gravity. The superior quality is attained duto to the combination of the applied pressure and the controlled solidification.
Applications
Centrifugal casting offers high material soundness and is the metal casting process of choice for jet engine compressor cases, petrochemical furnace tubes, many military and defense components, and other applications requiring high reliability.
Centrifugal casting is a process that delivers components of high material soundness. As a result, it is the technology of choice for applications like jet engine compressor cases, hydro wear rings, many military products, and other high-reliability applications. It has also proven to be a cost-effective means of providing complex shapes with reduced machining requirements and lower manufacturing costs as compared to forgings and fabrications.
Centrifugal casting should be performed when the object requires:
- Symmetrical shapes
- Sand casting material properties are inadequate
- Centerline shrink is an issue using other casting processes
- Limited I.D. features
- Large parts of up to 135,000 lbs. (61,235 kg) or more are needed
- Net-shaping: more precise O.D. detail and lower machining costs are desired
Advantages of Centrifugal Casting
Advantages:
Centrifugal casting has several advantages over other metal casting processes. it allows mass production of symmetrical products at lower costs. It does not rely on gate and risers, making its offers high production rates. Unlike sand casting, where gate and risers must be employed for proper flow of the molten metal.
One of the most advantages of centrifugal casting is that it helps to get rid of defects such as blowholes, shrinkage cavity, and gas pocket. Due to the collection of impurities at the center of the mold. Impurities are easily removed in centrifugal casting than in any other manufacturing process. it also helps economically in terms of low capital, which allows enough flexibility to produce various sizes and shapes of a part.
It offers good advantages as it saves time and energy. It requires less temperature of molten metal. finally, It also provides less dense metal with mechanical soundness.
Disadvantages
Despite the benefits of this casting, some limitations still occur to its applications. The followings are the disadvantages of centrifugal casting.
- Incorrect diameter in the inner part of the casting
- High investment is a need in tools and machinery
- More skilled laborers are needed for the process
- Not all type of metal or alloys are compatible with the process
- The process can produce few shapes.
Lear about die casting Here!
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