Centrifugal Casting

Centrifugal casting is the casting process specifically adapted to the production of cylindrical parts. In this case the mold is a long, hollow tube partially closed at the ends, and lined with a centrifugally applied refractory material in slurry form, which is subsequently dried and baked. The lined mold is then spun rapidly about its central axis, which is horizontal in the case of true centrifugal castings. The molten metal is poured into the spinning mold and spinning continued until the metal solidifies. Gates, risers and cores are eliminated in this process. The centrifugal action assists in the purification of the metal by forcing the less dense non-metallics to the inside. The casting solidifies from the outside and the inner surface feeds the necessary metal to the remainder of the casting as required. The cleaning processes of blasting and grinding remove the loosely adhering non-metallics from the inside of the cylindrical part.

The cleaned, "As-Cast" surfaces of AMERICAN CERAM-SPUN tubes are furnished for many industrial applications. Where closer dimensional tolerances are needed for dynamic balance or other reasons, and where smoother surfaces are required, the tube may be machined at AMERICAN CENTRIFUGAL to the desired finish and dimensions.

Because of the high speed of rotation used at AMERICAN CENTRIFUGAL, dynamic balance of the spinning system is mandatory, and most centrifugal castings are, therefore, produced in relatively simple cylindrical shapes, where balance is easily obtained.

Centrifugal castings, similar to other castings, have non-directional grain orientation and consequently possess non-directional mechanical properties.