Just a Sparky
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- May 2, 2020
- Location
- Minnesota
Just trying to get a grasp on the differences and pros & cons between the various different types of furnaces which can be built for heating metal to a pourable state. The hypothetical end use here is for lost-PLA investment casting of project parts. Making handwheels, flywheels, Hirth joints (without spending all day on a shaper), custom low pressure pipe manifolds and other complex shapes in lieu of a 5-axis machining center. Materials involved would range from aluminum, copper and bronze to gray/ductile iron and maybe the odd stainless part.
Are carbon-arc furnaces only good for heating iron and steel? Does the carbon from the electrode alloy with the metal being heated or does it simply oxidize into CO2 in the heat of the arc? Carbon gouging rods can be had for relatively cheap and my welder has enough snort for this to be a very attractive option for me.
Are induction furnaces only good for heating ferrous metals with high electrical resistance? Pretty sure I know the answer to this one but I could be wrong.
Is it worth it to use a tungsten electrode in argon to avoid contaminating aluminum and bronze?
Has anyone here done/been around enough foundry work to answer these questions?
Thanks.
Are carbon-arc furnaces only good for heating iron and steel? Does the carbon from the electrode alloy with the metal being heated or does it simply oxidize into CO2 in the heat of the arc? Carbon gouging rods can be had for relatively cheap and my welder has enough snort for this to be a very attractive option for me.
Are induction furnaces only good for heating ferrous metals with high electrical resistance? Pretty sure I know the answer to this one but I could be wrong.
Is it worth it to use a tungsten electrode in argon to avoid contaminating aluminum and bronze?
Has anyone here done/been around enough foundry work to answer these questions?
Thanks.