Flow-3D[R] provides solutions for tough casting problems. (Technology in Action).USER--Werkzeugbau Schaufler, Laichingen, Germany, ranks among the top European diemakers, and specializes in manufacturing dies for aluminum and magnesium magnesium (măgnē`zēəm, –zhəm), metallic chemical element; symbol Mg; at. no. 12; at. wt. 24.305; m.p. about 648.8°C;; b.p. about 1,090°C;; sp. gr. 1.738 at 20°C;; valence +2. castings. OPERATION--Schaufler's facility covers about 50,000 sq. ft., providing infrastructure for building dies weighing up to 35 tons for transmission and clutch housings, body and structural parts, cylinder blocks. PROBLEMS--Schaufler has been asked to produce dies for thin-wall magnesium components in order to pass on weight savings to consumers. Casting of these parts is, however, very challenging. Magnesium has a very low specific heat content, which means that it cools very quickly, running the risk of solidification so·lid·i·fy v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make solid, compact, or hard. 2. To make strong or united. v.intr. during filling. SOLUTION--Rolf Krack, Process Engineer for Schaufler, used FLOW-3D[R] for its ability to accurately track sharp liquid interfaces through arbitrary deformations, making it possible to detect the formation of vortices vor·ti·ces n. A plural of vortex. that cause recirculating metal surfaces to come in contact repeatedly and solidify so·lid·i·fy v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make solid, compact, or hard. 2. To make strong or united. v.intr. while flowing, increasing the air pocket formation and trapping trapping, most broadly, the use of mechanical or deceptive devices to capture, kill, or injure animals. It may be applied to the practice of using birdlime to capture birds, lobster pots to trap lobsters, and seines to catch fish. of inclusions. BENEFITS--The simulation process enables RoIf to do something that is impossible with physical testing: 'look inside" and view the flow of molten metal throughout the part. Says RoIf, "With the simulation, I could see exactly what was happening, try different design changes, and very quickly determine what effect they had". Flow Science, Inc. 683 Harkle Road, Suite A, Santa Fe Santa Fe, city, Argentina Santa Fe, city (1991 pop. 341,000), capital of Santa Fe prov., NE Argentina, a river port near the Paraná, with which it is connected by canal. , NM 87505 Tel: 505/982-0088 * Fax: 505/982-5551 E-mail: cfd@flow3d.com Web site: www.flow3d.com Select No. 040 at www.moderncasting.com/info |
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