in action CASTINGS
Casting Assists in Plasma Development Research
Cast Component: Sphere for Dynamo program. Material: Aluminum A356. Process: Nobake.
Application: Experimental plasma development research.
Casting Supplier: Portage Casting & Mold Inc., Portage, Wis.
Customer: Univ. of Wisconsin, Plas- ma Physics Department.
• T e casting consists of two halves, each measuring 128 in. across and 64 in. tall and weighing 6,800 lbs.
• Converting from fabrications saved the components 8-12 months and $1 million in production.
• T e cast design allows for all integral features to be accurately produced, regardless of their geom- etry, including all critical inner and outer diameter features. T ese features had a direct impact on the decision to launch the program.
• A critical element to the project are a set of water lines that travel the sphere’s circumference 32 times. T e stain- less steel lines are bent in specifi c locations and control the sphere’s temperature.
May/Jun 2012 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | 21
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