In order to provide high quality molten aluminium to a foundry in melt quantities of up to 1,000kg, flux and a carrier gas (normally nitrogen or argon) are injected and mixed into the melt - a process that is usually automated using appropriate machinery. One such machine is the market leading Rotorject, supplied by Huttenes-Albertus, which provides simultaneous rotary degassing and flux injection, increasing the efficiency of the degassing operation and significantly reducing oxide inclusion concentration in molten aluminium.
The machine itself is a portable unit mounted on wheels and has its own operator control panel. There are two automated sections: the rotary mixer and the vertical positioning axis for the mixer arm. The vertical travel of the mixer arm is controlled by a 25kN Power Jacks model E1802 metric machine screw jack, set up in translating screw configuration. The E1802 has an integrated electric motor drive with end-of-travel controlled by limit switches mounted in the superstructure.
For each operation, the unit is brought up to the melt and the rotor drive arm is raised using the E1802. The mixer is then moved above the melt and then lowered. Once in the molten metal a measured amount of flux is mixed with the carrier gas and injected through the spinning shaft and rotor into the metal. On completion, the mixer is raised out of the melt.