A crucible furnace is a melting or holding furnace in which the metal to be kept warm or melted is located in a crucible. A distinction is made here between tilting and ladling furnaces. Used crucible furnaces are used for all common casting processes such as die casting, permanent mould casting or sand casting. They are ideal for melting and holding aluminium, brass, zinc, lead and tin alloys. Crucible furnaces for aluminium alloys are manufactured with a capacity of up to 1.5 tonnes. Depending on the application and the required melting temperature, different designs, crucibles, mechanisms and techniques for heat transfer are used. There are graphite crucibles, crucibles made of cast iron, special cast iron, cast steel, silicon carbide crucibles and sheet steel.

The operating principle of crucible furnaces

Depending on your needs, you can purchase crucible furnaces from us that are heated electrically, with gas or with oil. However, the heating element is the central component of every resistance furnace. Here, heat is generated by the current flowing through (Joule heat), which is transferred to the charge or crucible by conduction and convection. The exception here is the most recent furnaces with immersing heating elements, which in turn offer various advantages in melting operation. Crucible furnaces for aluminium alloys have to reach about 1,300 °C, a value that is best achieved by conventional metal-wire heated furnaces.

Advantages and disadvantages of crucible furnaces in foundries

Used crucible furnaces have many advantages and are characterised by their fabulous durability and ease of operation and maintenance. Installation is relatively simple, they are easy to handle, inexpensive and ultimately available in many sizes to suit your needs. The capacity can vary from a few kilos to several tonnes. This enables the foundry to melt small batches cost-effectively, depending on the design. If production quantities are too large, crucible furnaces may no longer be economically viable. This is due to the relatively high energy consumption as well as the required manual labour of the employees, which automatically causes high personnel costs.

We differentiate between used crucible furnaces according to their construction and heating form:

1. Movable and fixed crucibles
2. Resistance-heated and fuel-heated crucible furnaces
3. Tilting and fixed crucible furnaces
   

Fiss-Machines offers you expert knowledge around used crucible furnaces

Fiss-Machines has been trading in used crucible furnaces for aluminium alloys for more than 30 years and has already successfully found, brokered, installed and recommissioned numerous used furnaces. Our expertise in buying and selling used machines for the casting industry makes us a sought-after partner for large and small companies.

Our services are tailored to your business and we do our utmost to fulfil your every wish. Whether it is the commissioning of die-casting machines, troubleshooting and repair on site including spare parts procurement and maintenance or transport to and commissioning at the new location. We are happy to take over the complete support from A to Z.