Centrifugal Castings
What is Centrifugal Casting?
Centrifugal casting is a process that delivers castings of very high material soundness, and thus is the technology of choice for applications like jet engine compressor cases, petrochemical furnace tubes, many military products, and other high-reliability applications.
In the centrifugal casting process, molten metal is poured into a spinning die. The die can be spinning either on a vertical or horizontal axis depending on the configuration of the desired part. Ring and cylinder type shapes are cast vertically; tubular shapes are made with the horizontal centrifugal process. Either process may be used to produce multiple parts from just one casting.
Because of the high g-forces applied to the molten metal in the spinning die, less dense material, including impurities, “floats” to the I.D. where it is subsequently removed by machining. Solidification is managed directionally under pressure, from the O.D. to the I.D., avoiding any mid-wall shrinkage, leaving a defect-free structure without cavities or gas pockets.
MetalTek's Proprietary Net-Shaping Technology
Net shaping can be readily added to parts cast vertically through the use of sand or ceramic split dies. True net shaping at investment casting levels of O.D. detail can be added by employing MetalTek’s proprietary net shaping technology and special tooling. Either net shaping or near net shaping can very dramatically reduce post processing costs while delivering the advantages of centrifugal casting.
There are typically no tooling costs for centrifugals because MetalTek manages the largest active inventory of centrifugal dies in the world.
Nearly any ferrous or non-ferrous alloy can be produced centrifugally:
- Horizontal up to 50” (1,270 mm) O.D., 240” long (6,100 mm). Up to 30,000 lbs. (13,640 kg).
- Vertical up to 180” (4,572 mm) O.D., Up to 34,000 lbs. (15,450 kg).
- Vacuum cast 18” x 42” diameter (455 mm x 1,070 mm). Up to 900 lbs. (410 kg).
Centrifugal castings at MetalTek are produced at Wisconsin Centrifugal and Southern Centrifugal.
