CRUCIBLE CLEANING SYSTEM

The CCS is able to clean a number of different sized crucibles. The cutting head has a separate radial and axial feed. The cutting process consists of several cycles. The cutting head starts at an initial radial position “close to the middle” and is fed in axial direction until the bottom is reached.Then the cutting head is retracted and repositioned to the outside to the next radial position (and cleaning operation). The number of cycles depends on the crucible size. For each crucible type hardwired limit switches limit the cutting head from cutting too deep into the crucible (wall and bottom). To protect the tool tips while optimizing the cutting process the CCS is equipped with a torque or current measurement system. Only the speed of the axial feed is controlled by this system; the cutting head and the rotary table rotate at fixed rpm’s; counter-clockwise to each other.

For machining pure aluminium (on the bottom and at the pouring nozzle), the operator can choose for “bottom simulation”, meaning removal of the aluminium at a (slow) pre-set axial feed. The offered CCS is able to clean red hot crucibles. For this reason the cutting head is provided with a separate front-bearing cooling circuit using oil. However, it is not recommended to clean crucibles with molten metal. The metal will stick to the tool tips and may get into the bolts, making it difficult or even impossible to replace the tool tips. In cleaning position, the crucible is placed at an angle of 10 degrees with respect to the horizontal. Dross material and (molten) metal will be transported by gravity and rotation (spiraled) into the retractable dross bin underneath the discharge chute. One dross bin will be provided. It is important for the clamping units that clamping can be identical on all types of crucibles. For this reason, the crucibles need a minor modification i.e. adding (4) clamping blocks. These modifications are not included in our offer.