Effects of Runner Extension and Ingates on Mold Filling in Ring-type Cast Products

In this study, potential defects of ring-type cast products during the mold-filling stage of the casting process were investigated using computer simulation. The main focus was on the effects of runner extension and ingates. During the mold filling the molten metal flowed from the bottom to the top of the mold in two curved paths along the ring-type cavity. The fluid fronts in the two paths did not show the identical velocity during the mold filling stage. This difference in the filling speeds may cause defects such as voids and local contractions. The present model contained virtual fluid detectors at various positions inside the mold. When the molten metal passed those points, the volume of fluid jumped up from zero to one. The moments were measured to compare the speeds of the fluid fronts. We attempted various combinations of runner extensions and ingates to stabilize the flow and then to optimize the casting mold design.