Measuring Molten Metal

Actuator/laser sensor system increases safety and product consistency

When Ormet Aluminum Mill Products Corp., a manufacturer of flat-rolled, coated and foil products, decided to upgrade its strip casting line at its Jackson Coated and Foil Division facility, Jackson, TN, the company considered several alternatives that would enhance efficiency and productivity. The primary objective of this focus was to make Ormet’s strip casting furnace operations more efficient. Thus, engineers concentrated on output flow rates of molten aluminum from the 60,000 lb. capacity gravity furnace to the continuous-sheet caster in an effort to increase consistency and safety.

The engineers felt overpours could be reduced and short pours eliminated by maintaining a uniform flow rate automatically instead of manually. This also would allow them to expand their production goals efficiently.

The previous operation for controlling the discharge of aluminum from the gravity furnace involved manually adjusting the position of the tap rod during the pouring process, which is not only a safety hazard but is also inefficient. The Ormet plant engineers met with representatives from laser sensor manufacturer LMI Selcom, Southfield, MI, to come up with a solution. The result is the Gravity Furnace Tap Out Actuator. When used with the SLS-5000 non-contact laser sensor for launder-level of mold level control, the device improves safety, quality and production rates.

The SLS-5000 sensor is typically used in head-box and launder-level control applications, rendering it suitable for the harsh environments found in molten metal operations. It is environmentally protected by a NEMA 4 air-cooled heat shield enclosure and comes with a pneumatic panel and hose kit adaptor. The sensor is mounted approximately 12-in. directly over the tapout box. The unit is fully compatible with the tapout actuator assembly.

—MP

For more information:

Circle 338—LMI Selcom, or connect directly to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at www.rsleads.com/202df-338