What are the structural differences between Sow mold and ordinary aluminum ingot mold?

Sow mold usually refers to a large ingot mold. Compared with ordinary aluminum ingot molds, sow molds have structural differences such as larger size, more complex chamber design, and thicker wall thickness. The details are as follows:

Size and capacity: Sow mold is used to cast large-sized and heavy metal ingots, such as “sows” in the aluminum industry, which are usually about 500 kg. Therefore, its overall size is larger, and the internal cavity is deeper and larger to accommodate more molten metal. The weight of aluminum ingots cast by ordinary aluminum ingot molds is generally from a few kilograms to tens of kilograms, such as 15 kg, 25 kg, etc., and the mold size is relatively small.

Number and design of chambers: Sow mold may have multiple chambers and can cast multiple large ingots at the same time. This multi-chamber design requires precise planning of chamber layout and flow channels to ensure uniform distribution and solidification of molten metal. Ordinary aluminum ingot molds are mostly single-chamber, or even if there are multiple chambers, the number of chambers is relatively small and the size is small. They are mainly used to cast small-sized aluminum ingots with relatively simple structures.

Wall thickness and strength: Sow molds have thick walls and a sturdy and durable base to withstand the thermal stress and pressure of high-temperature molten metal. Although ordinary aluminum ingot molds also need to have certain strength and heat resistance, their wall thickness can be appropriately thinner in comparison, and the strength requirements of the overall structure are slightly lower than those of Sow molds in some cases.

Demolding structure: Sow molds are difficult to demold because the ingots they cast are larger and heavier, so they may be equipped with more complex demolding mechanisms, such as hydraulic demolding devices. Ordinary aluminum ingot molds mostly use simpler demolding methods, such as side baffles, unloading blocks and other simple structures to assist demolding.

Cooling structure: Due to the large casting volume and complex cooling process of Sow molds, special cooling channels or cooling systems may be provided to achieve uniform cooling and ensure the quality of the ingots. The cooling method of ordinary aluminum ingot molds is relatively simple. Some rely on natural cooling, or only dissipate heat through the material and structure of the mold itself. Some will be equipped with simple cold water pipes to assist cooling.

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