CONTROL OF CASTING PRODUCTION PROCESS
1. SAND ANALYSIS
There is a line for testing the quality of foundry sand in the laboratory.
– Cohesion metre – testing the strength of the sand mixture with
pressure
– Electronic permeameter – determining the permeability of the sand mixture
– Dryer with infrared rays - determining humidity on the sample of a foundry
sand mixture
– Rammer – compressing samples of sand mixtures
– An instrument for determining the strength of the cores or moulds
2. ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION
Analysis of the chemical composition of materials is performed by a
high-quality spectroscope that operates on the principle of optical emission
spectrometry – LECO GDS 500A.
Possibility of the quantitative analysis of the following samples:
– low-alloy steels
– cast iron
– Al-alloys
– Cu- alloys
– bronze, etc.
3. VISUAL EXAMINATION OF
CASTINGS
After a casting is cleaned, the first control examination is performed in
order to prevent or reduce any errors.
After this, the castings are shot blasted and each piece is visually inspected
in detail. If the quality of the casting meets standards, it is packaged and
taken to the warehouse.
If irregularities are spotted during the inspection, the casting is sent for
reworking and undergoes another inspection after this.
4. CONTROL OF CASTING
DIMENSIONS
The dimensions of the castings are measured with the FARO measuring arm.
Measurements are performed according to the drafts made by the buyer, with an
accuracy of up to ±0,005mm.
5. MICROSTRUCTURE CONTROL
Testing the microstructure, with the preparation of samples by sanding
(from coarse to fine), polishing and etching.
Microscopic examinations are performed with the aim of determining
microstructure, the content of certain structures (microconstituents), grain
size, grain orientation, size and distribution of inclusions etc.
The microstructure is determined with etched samples and the aid of the optical
digital microscope, magnification 50x, 100x, 150x and 200x. Image analysis is
performed automatically by the software of the LECO company.
6. CONTROL OF MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES
Testing hardness on a hardness meter with the Brinell indentation hardness
test. Indentation measurement – Brinell Video System HBVS 100
7. TESTING METAL STRENGTH
Through static tensile testing on the SHIMADZU AG-X testing machine, it is
possible to determine the basic properties of a material such as:
– Ultimate tensile strength – Rm
– Yield - Rp02
– Elongation – A
– Contraction – Z
The computer-controlled testing machine SHIMADZU AG-X conducts tests and
records their results in electronic form, as well as producing a Hooke diagram
on the basis of the results obtained through material testing.
The testing machine is equipped with a video extensometer and meets
all the norms of EN-ISO-6892.