The Ingate: March 2012

Our Next Meeting is Thursday March 22, 2012

Location: Waterfront Conference Centre

Time: Reception and Cash Bar commences at 5:30 PM

Dinner – 6:45 PM

Presentations – 8:00 PM

Dress – Business Casual

Focus: Joint Meeting Ontario AFS/CFA

The March meeting will be a joint AFS/CFA meeting to celebrate the achievements of students in the metal casting industry. Scholarships will be distributed to students who have made excellent academic achievements and are interested in a metal casting future.

Guest Speaker: Tony Valeri – Vice President, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.

Tony joined ArcelorMittal Dofasco in June 2011 from his own firm, Ridge Strategy Group, a public affairs and management consulting company.
Tony was also a Member of Parliament for four consecutive terms, beginning in 1993.

During his terms in office, he served as Minister of Transport and subsequently led the Government”s legislative program as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. Prior to assuming public office he was principal of a life and health benefits practice.

Tony is a graduate of McMaster University and is actively involved in the community, most recently serving on the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph”s Healthcare Hamilton, holding the position of Board Chair from 2009 to 2011.

Focus: Key Issues Impacting Canadian Industry in 2012.

Ticket Prices and Reservations:

We ask all members and guests for your assistance in placing your reservations no later than 5pm on Monday March 19^th. Dinner tickets are $40.00 if pre-registered; $45.00 at the door. Retiree tickets are $25.00 and students are $10.00 Register at afsontario@bell.net. Please include the names of the people attending.

ONTARIO CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Pat Cline Award of Recognition

At our meeting on March 22, 2012 the Ontario Chapter of the AFS will be presenting an Award of Recognition to Pat Cline for his years of service to the Ontario Chapter. Pat is a service life member and served as Chair in 1991- 92. Pat returned to the Ontario Chapter Board of Directors in 2002 serving as Secretary and in 2004 until 2011 as Secretary/ Treasurer.

Presentation at CanMet February 16, 2012

Bob Puhakka, VP Process and Metallurgy at Alloy Castings along with Wade Marquardt presented a technical session called “Cast Differently”. Bob has spent the last four years developing advanced methoding techniques using detailed computerized process simulation and fundamental fluid dynamics based on the work begun by John Campbell at the University of Birmingham. He has developed the vortex step ingate – a velocity throttle for naturally pressurized, surface tension-controlled gravity fill systems that greatly reduces casting defects.

The Steel Foundry Society of America conducted a study to determine the source of inclusions in steel casting. The result of this study showed that 83% of inclusions were due to reoxidation products caused by the excessive air entrapment during the pouring of the mould. Typical gating systems such as the AFS 1: 4: 4 ratio system was designed to slow the velocity and smooth the metal flow thus reducing defects. It did slow the metal flow but did nothing to reduce air entrainment. Many gate systems were tried; filters and other methods were tried all to no avail.

The naturally pressurized system though having a higher velocity dramatically reduces air entrainment preventing the formation of reoxidation products. The metal surface in the pressurized system adheres to the walls of the runner system. To achieve this Bob has designed what might be called a radically new gate design. Gone are the funnel shaped pouring basins, round down sprues, wells and by passes.

In this new system a quadrilateral shaped pouring basin is used with a step to ensure there is enough metal in the basin before it flows into the sprue. The sprue is tapered and rectangular. Where it joins the runner there is a large radius and the runner is the same size as the bottom of the sprue. To control the flow into the mould cavity a vortex step gate is used. All castings are bottom gated and the gate system must be specifically designed for each different design of
casting. This system can be used for any metal alloy whether it is steel, iron or aluminum.

Now that Alloy Castings was able to produce castings of superior quality a change had to be made to the standard keel block for the tensile test specimens. The current method of producing test bars faced the same problem of air entrainment. This resulted in lower and inaccurate results when compared to the casting. Work was begun to redesign the test blocks using the same gating principles as used for the castings. As the result of this work the new test block will become the ASTM standard.

Wade Marquardt and Bob Puhakka

Alloy Castings Industries Ltd.

CANADIAN FOUNDRY ASSOCIATION

The Canadian Foundry Association will be holding their issues meeting March 22, 2012 at the Water Front Conference Centre from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The agenda will include: Environment, Health & Safety, Coalition of Ontario Manufacturers for Competitive Industrial Power, Education and President’s remarks.

CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT

To Dana Coulombe, Chair CFA Education Committee; Mohawk College Mechanical Technology Advisory Board and President Foundry Educational Foundation Canada

Remarks and Presentation of Award

Eric Porter, CFASG Director and CFA/AFS Liaison

YOUR ELECTRONIC INGATE

Note: As long as we have your correct email address you should get your copy of the Ingate. If you or if anyone you know who is a paid up member of the Ontario Chapter did not receive their issue of the Ingate please contact us at afsontario@bell.net.

INGATE SUPPORTERS

There is still time to get your business card on our web site. If you have not added your business card to our web site and would still like to you can do so at a prorated fee. Contact us at afsontario@bell.net or skopysh@cogeco.ca.

We would like to thank all who have supported us by their business card and ad donation this year. If you would like to advertise in the Ingate (and also on our website) please contact us at afsontario@bell.net. Please note the funds donated from advertising go towards scholarships for students interested in our industry. If you see errors or have changes to make with your ad, please contact us so we can correct it

AFS ONTARIO CHAPTER LIBRARY

The AFS library has an excellent collection of the latest editions of our industries literature and foundry information. The AFS resource base is the most comprehensive collection of foundry information in the world. In addition to books; video and CD’s are also available. Remember, you get the best price available when you purchase or order through the chapter library.

ROSTER CORRECTIONS

We ask that you check your membership roster for errors. Please note that the information in the roster is detail we receive from AFS headquarters in Chicago. We can assist with any corrections by contacting our Membership Chairman, Vince Skinner and he will forward to the Chicago office. You can email Vince with your changes at vskinner@penalloy.com.

AFSONTARIO WEB SITE

We have a new look and new features on our web site. By checking our site you can keep abreast of what is happening with our chapter. It also allows you to quickly access our sponsors web sites. As always we are open to your suggestions for improvements both with our web site and the Ingate. You can send your comments to afsontario@bell.net.

INDUSTRY CALENDAR

February 8 – 10, 2012 AFS Labor Relations & H R Conference

February 29 – March 2, 2012 Wisconsin Regional Conference

March 22 – 24, 2012 AFS Northwest Regional Conference

March 28 – 30, 2012 AFS Southeast Regional Conference

April 17 – 20, 2012 AFS 116^thMetalcasting Congress

April 25 – 27, 2012 World Foundry Congress

May 2 – 4, 2012 AFS Government Affairs Conference

August 12 – 13, 2012 AFS Environmental 101 Seminar

August 14 – 15, 2012 AFS 24^thEnvironmental Health & Safety Conference

August 16 – 17, 2012 AFS Chapter Officers Conference

September 16 – 18, 2012 AFS Executive Conference

CMI COURSE SCHEDULE

Check the Spring 2012 Course Curriculum in the February issue of Modern Casting.

**For more information please visit www.afsinc.org and click on “Cast Metals Institute.” The Cast Metals Institute provides intensive, specialized education for metal casters by metal casters. Since its beginning in 1957, CMI has presented over 3,000 courses to 65,000 participants representing nearly 5,000 individual companies – dramatic evidence of the acceptance of CMI as a vital contributor in the continuing development of foundry personnel.