Low Pressure Casting Equipment for Foundry Production

ATD Engineering & Machine manufactures low pressure casting machines for a range of foundry applications, from smaller components to large castings. Foundries don't need to look overseas for state-of-the-art low pressure casting equipment - ATD provides domestically built machines engineered for controlled metal filling and consistent casting production, with machine configurations suited to applications ranging from wheels and knuckles to larger structural components such as crossmembers. Our casting machines range from smaller units up to some of the largest low-pressure machines available on the market today. As a low-pressure casting machine manufacturer, ATD provides scalable solutions for foundries with different casting sizes, production requirements, and application needs.

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Standard Low Pressure Machine

Types of Low-Pressure Casting Machines

Standard Low-Pressure Machines:

Low pressure casting systems designed for a range of foundry applications and casting sizes.

GEN III Low-Pressure Casting Machines:

Advanced low pressure casting machines featuring proportional air control, integrated process controls, cooling management, and automated metal replenishment.

pRODUCT oVERVIEW

ATD Engineering & Machine manufactures Standard Low-Pressure Machines and GEN III Casting Machines designed around the specific requirements of the casting, mold, production cycle, and available process controls. Our GEN III machines incorporate advanced process-control and monitoring capabilities that provide greater process visibility, control, and consistency throughout the casting cycle. Some of its key features include:

Proportional Air Control Fill System:

  • The proportional air control fill system provides controlled filling pressure to support consistent metal flow and reduce turbulence during mold filling.

PLC-Based Process Control:

  • ATD's PLC logic is a core advantage of the system, managing casting sequences and machine operation, with Allen-Bradley controls used on ATD machines. Data collection is available upon request.

Cooling Line Management

  • ATD GEN III machines can be configured with up to 136 cooling lines to provide extensive mold cooling control.

Digital Flow Meters

  • Digital flow meters monitor cooling flow to provide greater process visibility and control, while cooling parameters can be programmed by time and/or temperature within the part recipe.

Cope Tilt Mechanism

  • Larger GEN III machines can be equipped with a cope tilt mechanism that allows the upper mold half to tilt 90 degrees or more for improved mold access, inspection, and coating touch-up.

Integrated Cooling Systems

  • Integrated chiller systems provide controlled mold cooling and consistent thermal management throughout the casting cycle.

In-Cycle Metal Refill

  • ATD's metal gate and Wonder Slide system transfers molten metal from the holding furnace to the pressure furnace during the casting cycle, eliminating crucible furnace changeover time, maintaining a more consistent metal level, and reducing metal transfer delays.

Operator Safety Systems

  • Sitema safety catchers and safety die blocks provide mechanical protection during machine operation and mold access.

Which Low Pressure Casting Machine Is Right for You?​

For Straightforward Casting Requirements:

A Standard Low-Pressure Machine may be appropriate when the application can be handled without the additional process-control and monitoring capabilities of the GEN III platform.

For High Cooling Demands:

GEN III configurations are appropriate when the mold requires extensive cooling management, including applications that require many cooling circuits.

For Advanced Process Requirements:

A GEN III Casting Machine is suited to applications where tighter control of the casting process, cooling, and machine operation is required.

For Integrated Production Processes:

Consider GEN III when the casting operation requires in-cycle metal replenishment or other process functions to be incorporated into the machine.

For Large or Complex Molds:

Consider a GEN III configuration when mold access, inspection, or coating requirements call for additional flexibility, including the cope tilt option available on larger machines.

For Data-Driven Process Management:

GEN III is suited to applications where recipe-based parameters, digital monitoring, and data collection are important to maintaining consistent casting conditions.

 Low Pressure Casting System Applications

ATD low pressure casting machines support a range of casting applications across foundry production.

Automotive Wheels:

Low pressure casting machines are used for wheel production, where controlled filling is important for producing consistent castings.


Large Automotive Castings:

Low pressure casting equipment can be configured for larger automotive components that require increased machine and mold capacity.

Suspension Knuckles:

Knuckles are a demanding automotive casting application where controlled metal filling and repeatable process conditions are important.

Small to Large Components:

ATD offers low pressure casting machines for applications ranging from smaller components to large castings, allowing machine configuration to be matched to the size and requirements of the casting.

Structural Crossmembers:

Larger low pressure casting machines can accommodate structural components such as crossmembers, which may require larger molds and greater machine capacity.

The ATD casting system also allows for molten metal refilling within cycle time and no crucible furnace changeover time!  With our innovative metal gate and wonder slide system, we are able to transfer metal from the holding furnace to the pressure furnace each cycle.  Not only does this reduce metal delays, it also provides a constant metal level in furnace improving your process control.

metal gate / wonder slide

Operator safety needs to come first, the ATD low pressure machines not only feature a Sitema safety catcher, but we also use safety die blocks as another level of safety to protect your operator while working in the machine.

safety blocks

Explore Our Low Pressure Casting Equipment

Ready to Discuss Your Low Pressure Casting Requirements?

ATD Engineering & Machine can help determine the appropriate machine configuration for your casting application. Our team can evaluate your casting size, mold requirements, production cycle, cooling needs, and process-control requirements to develop a solution suited to your operation. Contact ATD to discuss your low-pressure casting requirements.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • A low pressure casting machine uses controlled gas pressure to move molten metal from a furnace into a mold, supporting controlled mold filling and repeatable casting conditions.

  • Standard machines provide low pressure casting for a range of applications, while GEN III machines offer additional process-control, cooling, monitoring, and machine-management capabilities.

  • ATD low pressure casting machines can be used for components such as automotive wheels, suspension knuckles, crossmembers, and other small to large castings.

  • Low pressure casting uses controlled pressure to move molten metal into the mold from below, rather than relying primarily on gravity to fill the mold.

  • Casting size and geometry, mold requirements, production cycle, cooling requirements, and the level of process control needed should all be considered.

  • Yes. ATD can configure machines around the casting, mold, production process, and required process-control capabilities.

  • GEN III machines can incorporate PLC-based process control, proportional air control, cooling management, digital flow monitoring, and other process-monitoring capabilities.