One type of furnace used in the metal casting process is the crucible furnace. This post will teach us more about crucible furnaces, including how they work, their types, advantages, and disadvantages.
A crucible furnace is a type of furnace used to melt nonferrous metals such as aluminum. Crucible furnaces use oil, gas, coke, coal, charcoal, and electricity as fuel. The ensuing flames will be inhaled using a blower machine. This equipment may enhance the air or gas flowing through a room.
This furnace is ideal for small-scale foundries where operation methods and alloy changes are handled in small quantities.
The operation of a crucible furnace
- Prepare the ingredients (put them in a cup).
- Turn on the furnace.
- Once the furnace is hot enough, slowly add the previously prepared components to the furnace.
- Start the smelting process.
- Once properly cooked, the smelting material was taken from the furnace and put into the mold.
3 Types of crucible furnaces
Okay, now that you know how it works, let’s talk about the many types of crucible furnaces.
1. Lift-out Crucible
The crucible is placed in a heated furnace until the substance (oil, gas, or pulverized coal) melts in this type of lift-out furnace. The crucible is then lifted and taken from the furnace, where it is utilized as a ladle.
2. Stationary Pot
This stationary furnace combines the crucible and the heating furnace into a single device. The molten metal in this stationary furnace, however, is taken in a separate ladle.
3. Tilting-Pot Furnace
This model is distinct from the other two. Unlike the previous two varieties, this time the entire furnace portion can be tilted to pour molten metal.
The advantages and disadvantages of using a crucible furnace
Each type of melting furnace has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The type of furnace used can be tailored to the needs and specifications of the foundry company. The following are the advantages and disadvantages of crucible furnaces.
Advantages:
- Flexible
- Can use safe fuel (Kerosene)
- Easy operation
- Temperature setting is easy to do
- Easy slag separation
Disadvantages:
- Work efficiency is only 70%
- The furnace temperature drops quickly
- Metal smelting is only done on a small-medium scale
- Expensive maintenance costs
Conclusion
That concludes our discussion of the meaning, working methods, types, advantages, and disadvantages of crucible furnaces. As a result, this crucible furnace is appropriate for small to medium-scale production.