Quality Applications

Laser Measurement International Inc.'s Gravity Furnace Tap Out Activator/SLS 5000 Sensor Benefits Eliminates overpours and shortpours NEMA 4 heat-shield enclosure Reduces metal oscillation, tension and cracking www.lmint.com

Aluminum Manufacturer Improves Safety and Efficiency
Laser Measurement International Inc.'s Gravity Furnace Tap Out Activator/SLS 5000 Sensor

O rmet Aluminum Mills Products Corp. manufactures rolled-, foil-, sheet- and laminated-aluminum products. When the company decided to upgrade its strip-casting line at its Jackson Coated and Foil Division, the engineers at Ormet sought a product that would reduce metal waste and increase uniformity.

 Ormet plant engineers considered several options before finally meeting with representatives from Laser Measurement International Inc., who developed a Gravity Furnace Tap Out Actuator. When used with the SLS-5000 noncontact laser sensor for Launder Level or Mold Level Control, it improves safety, quality and production rates.

 The SLS 5000 sensor is typically used in head box or launder level control applications, making it well-suited for the harsh environments found in molten metal operations.

 The actuator controls the rate of flow from the gravity furnace by controlling the rod in the furnace tap hole. By controlling the flow rate, metal oscillation during casting is reduced, as are metal tension and cracking.

 Combined with the SLS 5000 laser, the actuator recognizes open/close requirements and uses an electric motor to automatically make the necessary adjustments. For safety, the automatic actuator drive comes with a pneumatic closing cylinder and accumulator tank, which closes the control rod even if there's a power shutdown or the electric motor malfunctions. The sensor is environmentally protected by a NEMA 4 air-cooled heat- shield enclosure and comes with a pneumatic panel and hose kit adaptor.

 The company found the sensor/actuator combination to be much safer and more stable than manually controlling furnace flow rate, say R.T. Hunt, senior mechanical engineer, and Tim Bishop, senior electrical engineer at the Ormet facility.

 "Our caster operation is more uniform, and our operators are very pleased with the performance of the system," adds Bishop. "A consistent flow rate has been assured and by eliminating overpours and shortpours, our overall productivity and quality has also increased. The actuator is a valuable tool for increasing our production efficiency and reducing waste."

 The Gravity Furnace Tap Out Actuator is 19.685 x 15.75 x 45.67 in. and weighs 171.6 lb. The unit has a stroke of 3.94 in. and a force exceeding 1 kN (or more than 220 lbf). The actuator package includes a pneumatic box, which is 23.62 in. high x 14.96 in. wide x 13.78 in. deep. The power required is +/-24 Volts D.C.