ROBAR Capabilities Foundry MELTING & POURING

Patterns • Molds • Melting • Core • Sand • Heat Treat • Coating • Light Forging • Rubber Gaskets

ROBAR uses Induction Furnaces to convert steel scrap, pig iron, Returns and alloying materials into any one of the thirty-six standard metallurgical materials.


ROBAR has five melting furnaces - all induction furnaces, which do not use flame heat, or heat from an electric arc.

Induction furnaces use electrical energy to melt solid metal into its molten form at temperatures up to 1677 C (3050 F).

The Power Packs behind the furnaces convert alternating current to direct current, which is used to create an intense magnetic field inside the coils which surround each furnace.

This magnetic field creates powerful Eddy Currents in the metal "charge" placed in the furnace and causes the metal to melt.

About 85% of all the electrical energy used by ROBAR is consumed by the furnaces.





As the melt progresses, alloying materials are added in order to modify the metal's chemistry. There are about 30 materials commonly specified for use in our alloy recipes at ROBAR.

In addition to carefully controlling the materials and conditions in the melting operation, complex quality checks are made throughout the process. ROBAR uses a Baird Spectrometer as well as other sophisticated instruments like Electronite Pyrometers and a Leeds-Northrup Digilab for these tests.

Three 1,000 pound capacity furnaces are set up to melt steel alloys in batches. They are two Pillar Mark 8 furnaces, and one Ajax Pacer LI.

Another two 4,000 pound capacity furnaces are used to melt and hold iron alloys. Both of these furnaces are Pillar Mark 14's. This metal is usually tapped out (poured) into 800 pound capacity ladles every twenty minutes.

When the molten metal has reached the right temperature and meets the required chemical and physical specifications, it is tapped into a pre-heated pouring ladle. Once the metal is tapped it immediately begins to cool.

The metal is quickly poured into the molds, before it begins to solidify. The Metal Pourers move the full ladle to the waiting completed molds on a crane hook that travels on overhead railways or tramways. They use the crane to move the ladle to the correct height to start the pour. The Pourer tips the ladle with a wheel that is geared to the ladle pivot shaft. As the Ladle Pourer increases the angle of tip in the ladle the operator continuously adjusts the height with the crane to get a constant and smooth pour into the mold.

After the castings cool, they are shaken out of the molds. The sand is recovered and recycled. Return Sand is conveyed through a series of magnets which removes all small castings, tramp metal and ferrous particles. The sand is then screened, cooled and transported to a pneumatic reclaimer which removes excess fine particles (sand and clay). Then, after a final screening, the sand is placed in a bin until needed at the Muller.

Patterns • Molds • Melting • Core • Sand • Heat Treat • Coating • Light Forging • Rubber Gaskets

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robar Industries Ltd.CALL for Information: 604.591.8811 - Toll Free 800.663.6553

Waterworks Foundry ROLOG - Logging Industrial About Robar Contact Us