sow mold Archives - EB Castworld

14Jul, 2025

What are the common demoulding problems when using Sow mold?

How to solve demoulding problems?

When using Sow mold, common demoulding problems include insufficient demoulding angle, mold surface adhesion, ejection mechanism failure, etc. The following are specific problems and solutions:

Insufficient demoulding slope: The demoulding slope should generally be between 0.5 and 2 degrees. If the slope is too small, the friction between the metal ingot and the mold will increase, making demoulding difficult. The solution is to reasonably design the demoulding slope according to the shape and size of the metal ingot when designing the mold to ensure that it is within the appropriate range. For metal ingots with complex shapes, the demoulding slope can be appropriately increased.

Adhesion on the mold surface: The rough surface, scratches or wear on the mold cavity surface will make the metal ingot easily adhere to the mold. When solving the problem, the mold surface needs to be polished to improve the surface finish. Surface treatment processes such as chrome plating can also be used to enhance the anti-adhesion of the mold surface. At the same time, repair the worn parts of the mold, reduce the gap between the inserts, and prevent the metal liquid from entering the gap to produce flash and affect demoulding.

Failure of the ejector mechanism: Insufficient ejection device stroke, unbalanced ejection or poor ejector action will cause the metal ingot to be unable to be demoulded. The effective ejection area of the ejector should be increased to ensure sufficient ejection stroke, and ensure that the ejector is evenly distributed so that the metal ingot is balanced. At the same time, check whether the sliding parts of the top plate are sticky. If so, lubricate or repair them to ensure smooth movement of the top plate.

Insufficient mold rigidity: Under the action of casting pressure, if the mold is not rigid enough, it will deform, causing the metal ingot to be clamped and difficult to demold. When designing the mold, ensure that it has sufficient rigidity and strength, which can be achieved by increasing the wall thickness of the mold, setting reinforcing ribs, etc. For molds that have insufficient rigidity, a frame can be inlaid on the outside of the mold to increase rigidity.

Poor exhaust: If the exhaust in the mold is not smooth, gas will remain and increase the demolding resistance. Exhaust grooves or exhaust holes need to be designed at appropriate locations of the mold to ensure that the gas can be discharged smoothly. The width and depth of the exhaust groove should be reasonable, generally 0.1-0.3mm in width and 0.5-1mm in depth.

Improper temperature control: Too high or too low mold temperature will affect the solidification and demolding of the metal ingot. If it is difficult to demold at the parting surface, the mold temperature can be appropriately increased and the cooling time can be shortened; if it is difficult to demold at the cavity surface, the mold temperature can be appropriately reduced or the cooling time can be increased. At the same time, to ensure that the temperature of each part of the mold is uniform, this can be achieved by optimizing the cooling system.

Improper use of release agent: Improper selection of release agent or insufficient amount cannot effectively reduce the friction between the metal ingot and the mold. It is necessary to select a suitable release agent based on factors such as metal type and casting temperature, and strictly control its amount. For example, for high-temperature casting, polytetrafluoroethylene release agents can be selected.

9Jul, 2025

What is the difference in the structure of Sow mold?

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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9Jul, 2025

What is Sow mold?

In what metal casting scenarios is Sow mold mainly used?

Sow mold is an aluminum ingot mold or ingot mold, which is a reusable steel casting mold. It usually has thick walls and a durable base to withstand the thermal stress of molten metal, allowing the molten metal to flow smoothly and solidify quickly. It is often used to cast molten metal in furnaces and launders into ingots.

Sow mold is mainly used in the following metal casting scenarios:

Aluminum casting scenarios: widely used in aluminum smelters, foundries and die-casting plants to produce aluminum ingots. Different types of aluminum ingot molds can meet different production needs. For example, standard aluminum ingot molds are reliable and efficient, while large-capacity aluminum ingot molds are suitable for large-scale production. In addition, in industries such as automobiles, aerospace, construction and energy, aluminum ingot molds are also used to cast aluminum liquid into aluminum ingots before further processing into the required parts.

Zinc casting scenario: It can be used for zinc casting. Some larger-sized Sow molds can hold more zinc liquid, such as a 10,500 cubic inch ductile iron Sow mold that can hold about 2,500 pounds of zinc.

Lead casting scenario: It can be used for the lead casting process, which is also to pour the molten lead liquid into the mold and cool and solidify it into a lead ingot. The 10,500 cubic inch ductile iron Sow mold mentioned above can hold about 4,200 pounds of lead.

Alloy steel casting scenario: In the field of alloy steel casting, Sow mold can be used to cast alloy steel ingots. Its sturdy structure and precise design can ensure reliable and efficient casting operations, meet the strict requirements of the alloy steel industry for ingot quality, and can be used to produce ingots of various alloy steel grades, suitable for small-scale and large-scale casting operations.