Centrifugal casting - the method of obtaining precise blanks

Centrifugal casting is a method of manufacturing blanks, castings, which is based on the effect of centrifugal forces on the molten mass of the material. Foundry, engaged in the manufacture of shaped blanks and coarse castings, consists of a variety of different methods of casting: in chill mold, in sandy-argillaceous forms, in special melted models, under pressure, etc. But the quality of the resulting casting is optimal centrifugal casting.

In fact, the method consists in that, under the action of the centrifugal force, the molten material spreads uniformly along the inner surface of the mold and, crystallizing, forms a workpiece with the necessary parameters. Do not think that this method is applicable only to metals and their alloys. In fact, the casting of plastic products has become extremely widespread. But polymeric materials have a number of features that must be taken into account when working with them. Plastic injection is often carried out under pressure, which ensures a special precision of the products.

In most cases, different types of casting are used to produce metal castings. At the same time, centrifugal casting has a number of advantages: the absence of hollow shells and slag inclusions in the resulting casting, the high density of the material, the increased wear resistance of the metal, which is achieved due to the uniform structure, etc. The main advantages of this method are the saving of material on the workpiece and a significant reduction in the labor intensity of the entire technological Process (due to the maximum approach of the casting to the finished product).

Centrifugal casting has a number of "minuses". These include: inaccurate reception of free workpiece surfaces, propensity to segregate material, high cost of molds (due to increased requirements for dimensional accuracy).

The method of centrifugal casting uses special machines. They differ in the direction of the axis of rotation - vertical, horizontal and inclined axis (although, the latter are used very rarely). Machines with a vertical axis are used to produce small lengths of workpieces with insignificant step differences (rings, pistons, bushings, etc.). Machines with a horizontal axis of rotation make it possible to obtain high-precision long-length castings with a wall of one thickness. A similar method produces cast-iron pipes. This method is the most common. With the help of centrifugal casting, it is possible to produce pipes with walls from 80 to 300 mm (depending on the equipment used). The only thing you should remember about is that with this method, internal stress arises in the blanks. Therefore, after obtaining the castings, it is necessary to conduct annealing.

The method of centrifugal casting also produces other blanks for parts that are bodies of revolution. Especially popular method of precision casting is used in the production of blanks from non-ferrous metals (this method allows you to save expensive materials).