Instruction manual

OPERATING_MANUAL_MC20V.DOC 18.03.11 KS Seite 3
1. Introduction
1.1. General description of the MC20V
The INDUTHERM mini casting machine MC20V is suitable to cast all kind of metals
into moulds or into investment flasks. Except dental alloys and very reactive alloys
like Magnesium. The melting charge is heated up by induction. The special
advantage of strong inductive heating is that the melting temperature is reached
rapidly, because the heat is directly generated in the metal or will transported to the
metal by a crucible with graphite insert. During the melting process, the metal is
thoroughly mixed by means of a magnetic field, ensuring a homogenous mixing even
when using mixtures of pure metals.
Crucibles with graphite inlet are used for metals up to 1300°C,
Ceramic crucibles for steel or Platinum up to 2000°C
Vacuum-Pressure mode in only one chamber
The casting mode is based on this new method: during the melting process the metal
and the flask are under full vacuum. The metal is poured into the flask by tilting the
whole chamber. Inside flask is also a vacuum which guarantees pouring without air
counter pressure. Now the vacuum will be replaced by gas overpressure rapidly: The
pressure impulse (inside of the flask is still under vacuum!) ensures excellent form
filling. The effect of vacuum in the flask and outside overpressure lasts for some
time, long enough until metal is already solid.
The most important fact of this system is quickly creating of vacuum and very fast
pressure built-up in the system. To the evacuate chamber it needs a strong vac
pump with 8 m³/h minimum, releasing vacuum + creating over pressure it needs a
gas bottle with PRESSURE regulator (NEVER a flow regulator !!!). Short connection
pipes make rapid pressure supply even better.
All functions are linked with the turning of the chamber: immediately after pouring
metal into the flask, over pressure comes automatically.
As mentioned before, a pressure impulse on top of liquid metal, while inside
there is still a vacuum, makes the good form-filling of this system. This means,
the flask by itself is a reservoir of the vacuum. As smaller the flask, as less
reservoir is there and pressure equalisation is quicker. In case of doubt (very
delicate items) or form filling problems take one size bigger for the flask than
necessary from aspect of dimensions