Cleaning of slag pot

MHMHD Slag pot cleaning

When slag pot are removed from the shakeout, they are run through the shot blast to remove sand and expose the surface for inspection and further work. The next step is the removal of the gating system.

To pour molten metal into a mold a path is required called a ‘pouring sprue’. The pouring sprue will generally have will have many feeders to various parts of the casting. This is called the ‘gating system’.

In addition, as metal shrinks while it is cooling, so additional pockets of molten metal, called ‘risers’, must be present to feed into the casting. Once the pouring sprue, risers, and gates are removed in the ‘Burn & Arc’ areas, the slag pot are returned to the shot blast to be cleaned for inspection.

At the first inspection, slag pot are inspected for defects such as cracks, flashing, inclusions, etc. If defects are present that require welding and/or grinding the slag pot are sent to the appropriate area to have the defect corrected. Once rework is completed, the slag pot are sent to the Heat Treating department.

After being heat treated, the slag pot are again sent through the shot blast before being sent to the Final Inspection area. Depending on the customer’s specifications, slag pot in Final Inspection may under go Magnetic Particle Inspection, Ultrasonic Inspection, Radiographic Inspection and /or Brinell testing. For additional information on MHMHD’s quality processes please visit our Quality Assurance web pages.

If a casting fails the Final Inspection it may be returned for rework or sent to the scrap bin for re-melt if the defect is severe. When slag pot pass inspection they are sent to the shipping dock and the production department notified so that the necessary paperwork can be processed.