Casting program tests out machine new to U.S.
02/08/2010
Steffen Voigt, a German exchange student, pours molten alumnium into a machine to be analyzed. The metal is estimated to be 1,200-1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Metal casting students are testing a new machine that has never been used in the U.S.
Students in the manufacturing/metal casting program at Pittsburg State University have become the first to test out a thermal analysis machine never before used in this country.
Students in the casting lab led by Engineering Technology Professor Dr. Russ Rosmait recently received the Thermaltest 5,000 Thermal analysis unit from Foseco Metallurgical, a Brussels, Belgium-based company. Used for the past several years in Europe, the unit uses advanced technology to perform a computer analysis of molten metal, reporting exactly what is in the composition.
"This machine can tell us how well the metal is forming, the size of the grains that are forming, and whether it's a good or bad sample overall," Rosmait said. "You could compare it to making a pot of chili. After you add the spices, you test it to make sure it tastes right. This machine is essentially 'tasting' the composition to tell us if it's good."
The composition of metal is important, said Rosmait, because bad metals can lead to problems in manufacturing and production. "The consistency of the composition measured in real time can prevent problems in production," he said.
In addition to testing the new machine, the class is comparing it with an older model that is already available in the U.S. The class plans to prepare and submit a paper of their findings for publication with the American Foundry Society.
Along with the machine, which is on loan to PSU until the end of the month, Rosmait has also welcomed Steffen Voigt, a German exchange student from Technical University of Freiberg, who is studying the machine for his master's thesis.
"To be able to evaluate metal before it solidifies, that's really amazing," Voigt said. "It's cheaper and saves a lot of time to be able to identify properties that early in the process."
The machine will be returned to the company at the end of the month, but Rosmait said he's happy Foseco has allowed PSU's manufacturing program to test the machine as it begins to be marketed in the U.S.
"They see our facilities as being unique in the country," he said. "This is a fantastic opportunity for us."
---Pitt State---
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