Centrifugal Casting

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What is Centrifugal Casting?

Centrifugal casting is the preferred metal casting process for applications demanding high strength and reliability, such as flight and land-based turbine engine compressor cases, petrochemical furnace tubes and reformer tubes, and naval defense components. Centrifugal casting produces defect-free parts with excellent material integrity.

In centrifugal casting molten metal is poured into a spinning die, which rotates on a vertical or horizontal axis depending on the part's design. Vertical centrifugal casting is commonly used for rings and cylinders, while horizontal centrifugal casting is ideal for tubes. Each can yield multiple parts from a single casting, increasing efficiency.

Intense centrifugal force pushes denser metal to the outer diameter (O.D.) and drives impurities and oxides toward the inner diameter (I.D.), where they can be removed by machining. Directional solidification under pressure ensures a uniform structure, preventing mid-wall shrinkage and eliminating defects such as gas pockets or cavities.

Our Centrifugal Casting Expertise

MetalTek produces ferrous and non-ferrous centrifugal castings at our Sandusky International and Wisconsin Centrifugal Divisions. Our industry-leading centrifugal casting capabilities cover a wide range of sizes and are supported by the world’s largest and most diverse inventory of centrifugal casting dies. For customers, this minimizes upfront tooling costs and reduces lead times.

Horizontal centrifugal castings: O.D. up to 60 in. (1525 mm), length up to 432 in. (10 973 mm), and weight up to 125,000 lbs. (56 700 kg)
Vertical centrifugal castings: O.D. up to 180” (4572 mm) and weight up to 34,000 lbs. (15 422 kg)

MetalTek can use vacuum casting to control oxygen exposure and enhance high-performance alloys like 718, 625, GTD222, and Rene77. This process ensures uniform soundness and tight tolerances, ideal for high-reliability components in aerospace and defense applications. We cast vacuum parts up to 18 in. x 42 in. (455 mm x 1070 mm) and 800 lbs. (364 kg).

Centrifugal Casting Video

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When to Use Centrifugal casting

Centrifugal casting is a good choice when your application requires:

Symmetrical shapes such as tubes, rings, and cylinders
Improved material properties over sand casting
Eliminating centerline shrinkage to improve structural integrity
Limited I.D. features
Large parts up to 125,000 lbs. (56 700 kg)
Uniform grain structure for enhanced strength and performance
High dimensional integrity for applications such as defense

Solutions

Squeeze Press for Dewatering

Squeeze presses for dewatering are a natural application of centrifugal casting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main advantages of using centrifugal casting?

Centrifugal casting offers several key benefits. The intense centrifugal force results in defect-free parts with excellent material integrity by pushing denser metal to the outer diameter and forcing impurities to the inner diameter for removal. It also ensures directional solidification under pressure, leading to a uniform structure and eliminating mid-wall shrinkage and defects like gas pockets.

What types of parts are typically made using centrifugal casting?

This process is commonly used to manufacture symmetrical shapes such as tubes, rings, and cylinders. Specific applications include compressor cases for flight and land-based turbine engines, petrochemical furnace and reformer tubes, and naval defense components.

What are MetalTek's centrifugal casting capabilities?

MetalTek excels in both horizontal and vertical centrifugal casting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Our Sandusky International and Wisconsin Centrifugal divisions boast industry-leading capabilities, including a vast inventory of centrifugal casting dies, which helps minimize upfront tooling costs and reduce lead times for our customers.

What size of centrifugal castings can MetalTek produce?

Our horizontal centrifugal casting capabilities include outer diameters up to 60 inches (1,525 mm), lengths up to 432 inches (10,973 mm), and weights up to 125,000 lbs (56,700 kg). For vertical centrifugal castings, we can achieve outer diameters up to 180 inches (4,572 mm) and weights up to 34,000 lbs (15,422 kg).

Does MetalTek offer centrifugal casting for specialized alloys?

Yes, MetalTek has the capability to perform vacuum casting during the centrifugal process. This controlled environment minimizes oxygen exposure, which is crucial for enhancing the properties of high-performance alloys like 718, 625, GTD222, and Rene77, often used in aerospace and defense applications. We can cast vacuum parts up to 18 in. x 42 in. (455 mm x 1,070 mm) and 800 lbs. (364 kg).

When should I consider using centrifugal casting for my project?

Centrifugal casting is an excellent choice when your application requires symmetrical shapes, improved material properties compared to sand casting, elimination of centerline shrinkage for better structural integrity, limited inner diameter features, large part sizes, a uniform grain structure for enhanced strength, and high dimensional integrity.

How can I determine if centrifugal casting is right for my specific needs?

We encourage you to contact our team of experts at MetalTek. We can discuss your project requirements in detail and help you determine if centrifugal casting is the optimal solution for your application.

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