Melting Metal in a Casting Furnace

A casting furnace can melt every kind of metal to fill molds to form new objects. When the furnace melts the metal, the molten metal pours from the crucible, the molten metal’s container, into the molds and cools and solidifies into the new shapes. Then, the jewelry, science experiment or plumbing part, whatever the object it is, can go on to fulfill its function.

The heat source for these furnaces usually comes from fossil fuel somewhere along the line whether it’s at the foundry or from the grid, which essentially comes mostly from fossil fuel. There are differences in efficiency and pollution. However, if the furnace depends on coke for its heat, it’s neither efficient nor earth friendly. The best way is to use very efficient furnaces such as induction furnaces. Induction furnace is high efficient and it operate by electricity. Induction furnace melts metal very fast. Using less electricity also helps the foundry to spend less on utility bills.

Metal Melting Temperatures

Depending on the purpose and metal type, casting furnaces have to melt the metal 300 degrees F to approximately 3000 degrees F, it is depends on the metal melting point. Tin need 450 degrees F to melt. Carbon steel need 2800 degrees F to melt.

Types of Molds

Most casting furnace users depend on two types of molds, expendable and nonexpendable. Expendable means it doesn’t have a long life. Sand and plaster are two examples of expendable. The nonexpendable is permanent and usually an alloy metal, such as steel or aluminum, that can withstand high heat for long periods of time. Large industries use these to keep costs down and have high output.