To provide high quality molten aluminium to a foundry, for melts up to 1000kg, flux and a carrier gas (normally nitrogen or argon) are injected and mixed into the melt. This process can be automated by using a flux injection machine.
One such machine is the market leading Rotorject supplied by Huttenes-Albertus, which provides simultaneous rotary degassing and flux injection. The Rotorject machine increases the efficiency of the degassing operation and significantly reduces oxide inclusion concentration in molten aluminium. This results in an exceptionally high quality of molten metal.
The machine itself is a portable unit mounted on wheels and has its own operator control panel. The unit has 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 E-Series metric machine screw jack in translating screw configuration (model E1802). Chosen for its reliability, robustness and quality design while providing the required performance within the applications space constraints.
The E1802 screw jack has an integrated electric motor drive and bellows boot lifting screw protection. The end of travel for the screw jacks stroke is controlled by limit switches mounted in the superstructure.
For a given operation the unit is brought up to the melt and the rotor drive arm is raised using the E1802 screw jack. The mixer is then moved above the melt where it is then lowered. Once in the molten metal a measured amount of flux is mixed with the carrier gas (normally nitrogen or argon) and injected through the spinning shaft and rotor into the metal.
Once completed the mixer is raised out of the melt.Some Rotorject machines have now been operating successfully in service, in challenging environments, for over 15 years. This illustrates the quality and robust design of the E-Series screw jacks.