More about Centrifugal Castings

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Centrifugal castings are produced using a rapidly spinning mold cavity, into which molten metal is poured. The pressure within a centrifugal casting device can reach extremely high levels, resulting in a separation of contaminants from the cast metal. These contaminants are driven to the center of the casting, and are later machined from its surface.

Ideal for cylindrical and circular parts, the process has distinct advantages over other operations, such as forging and sand casting. The most significant of these advantages is the purity of the finished product, which is free from many of the imperfections associated with other forming processes. Centrifugal castings also contain a denser grained structure and enhanced strength. The process also allows for faster setup and manufacturing time, and tends to incur a lower cost for raw materials.

Brass is regularly cast using the centrifugal casting process, as is stainless steel, Monel, Inconel and a wide variety of other alloys. These metals are typically cast into tubes, cylindrical fittings, rings and similar shapes. Common examples of centrifugal castings are boiler tanks, pressure vessels, pipes and cylinder liners. Most centrifugal casting firms offer a comprehensive range of machining services to finish parts. These services include CNC turning, milling and drilling, as well as various grinding and finishing operations.

The centrifugal casting process can be used to cast extremely large parts, with some components having diameter of more than 100 inches and weighing more than five tons. The wall thickness of parts can range from a fraction of an inch to more than five inches. Post-casting machining processes allow fabricators to drill holes for rivets and other fasteners, as well as further refine existing shapes. As opposed to the impurities found on the inner surface of a centrifugal casting, the outer diameter normally has a very fine grain. Centrifugal casting firms regularly provide testing services to ensure that completed parts are free from defects and suitable for the desired application.