Melting and ingot production is the first and indispensable part of the production process of aluminum alloy pressure processing, which provides the necessary ingot for the pressure processing part, and the ingot to a large extent affects the process performance and product quality of the processing process. Therefore, the primary task of casting production is to supply high-quality ingots that meet the processing requirements. Below we discuss ingot molding technology and related equipment.

Ingot forming technology, with the demand for aluminum production, is also constantly developing. There are more than dozens of ingot molding methods. Now our country is widely used: block mold ingot method, continuous and semi-continuous ingot method, continuous casting and rolling and other three methods.

(I) block mold ingot

Block mold (water-cooled mold) ingot is now the primary production method for sheet ingots in small aluminum processing plants and aluminum product plants in China, accounting for about 2/3 of sheet ingots. Its characteristics are: convenient and sensitive production, low equipment cost, waste heat processing, elimination of milling and heating processes, small anisotropy, good deep drawing function, but poor ingot quality, low yield and poor working conditions. Cast iron molds commonly used for aluminum alloys are: thick-walled iron molds that are split, cold water molds that are split, and water-cooled molds are the most.

(II) semi-continuous ingot (DC)

Semi-continuous ingot casting characteristics: because the casting process is carried out successively and stably, the lower casting temperature is used, and the impact effect of the liquid flow is reduced, and then the defects such as doping, pores and shrinkage cavities are reduced, and the yield is improved. The defect is because the ingot is subjected to strong direct water cooling, the attack is shortened, the stress is large, and the ingot crack tendency is large.

Semi-continuous ingot casting equipment: the first is semi-continuous casting machine, which includes: casting channel, lifting platform, transmission equipment, ingot base, water cooling system.

(III) continuous casting rolling

Classification and characteristics of continuous casting and rolling method: continuous casting and rolling method enables liquid metal to be billet or timber at one time, simplifies the production process, reduces a lot of equipment investment and source cost, combines casting and rolling to improve the fineness of metal arrangement, eliminates shrinkage, looseness, reduces segregation and other defects, saves cutting head and tail, and improves the yield. According to the production methods and characteristics of casting and rolling are divided into the following three categories: twin roll casting method, wheel belt casting method, double belt continuous casting method.