Provision of Stable Operation of a Combined Casting–Extrusion Unit for Nonferrous Metals

The object studied is the contemporary Castex process of continuous casting–extrusion of nonferrous alloys implemented in a Conform unit with a wheel-crystallizer vertical axis of rotation. The aim of research is to establish relationships for planning equipment structural elements providing implementation of a stable process of continuous feeding of molten metal into a crystallizer channel, its solidification and extrusion into a die orifice. The problem is set of revealing and calculating the main process parameters determining observation of conditions for constancy of second-by-second volumes of metal during its movement from a dispenser with melt to emergence of an extruded object from the die orifice. An original technical solution is provided for implementing metal combined casting–extrusion in a Conform unit with a horizontal wheel-crystallizer. Dispenser dimensions are calculated in relation to the level of melt within it and wheelcrystallizer rotation rate providing stable accomplishment of the test process in a laboratory unit. Test results for continuous casting and extrusion of aluminum alloy AD 31 confirm the correctness of calculated data.