Development of a prototype unit for continuous centrifugal casting of aluminum tubes

Abstract

The Continuous Centrifugal Casting (CCC) process was developed to produce aluminum tubes in an economic way. Since this is a new process, a prototype unit had to be designed and built to prove the concept and test the many process parameters involved. The CCC process is very promising but many technical challenges must be overcome in order to actually cast aluminum tubes. Many of these challenges required the development of new mechanical equipment. One of these challenges is the feeding of a small and constant mass flow of metal in the mold instead of regulating a level. Another challenge is the simultaneous extraction of the tube while rotating and cooling the mold. Other classical DC casting challenges such as water distribution, combined with the rotation of the mold, were particularly complex to solve. The result is a versatile equipment allowing to test many casting parameters. Several casting campaigns were carried out.