Shibaura Machine’s Integrated Die Casting Ladle Improves Overall OEE

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL, November 4, 2022 -

When every second counts and productivity is everything you need to ensure your die casting machine and team is up to the challenge. For cold chamber high pressure die casting in particular, one of the most important aspects of the process is timing and controlling the ladle to pour into the cold chamber. 

While ladling itself can take just a few seconds, a quality ladler is imperative to the repeatability of the entire process efficiency and the overall cost. Being able to have an accurately sized biscuit time and time again not only prevents significant remelt costs, but consistent pours also mean less unplanned downtime, increased productivity, and consistent quality. More repeatable castings shot to shot!

When Timing is Everything

The Shibaura Machine’s die casting machine features an electrically driven ladle system to combat these issues. This automatic ladling system that is an integral part of the machine can improve the accuracy to consistently pour from the furnace into the cold chamber of the machine. 

The repeatable accuracy the automatic ladle provides lowers the overall cost of operation. With seamless integration to the TOSCAST operating system, the operator is able to automatically control the ladle on the same screen as the rest of the die casting process. The system then automatically synchronizes the ladle cup to pour the metal charge into the cold chamber as the machine makes the final locking movement.

This type of integration means the control system compensates for any change to the overall process. For example, if the spray time is changed, the control system will adjust accordingly without the operator having to step in. With aftermarket ladle systems or manual ladling, this type of seamless intelligence doesn’t exist between the machine movement and functions of the ladle.

In addition, the TOSCAST has the option to utilize a separate function for controlling the biscuit size automatically. This function allows the operator to set up in the TOSCAST controller the biscuit size and the TOSCAST automatically determines the amount of metal to ladle. 

One Machine, One Control

Being able to have a single, central operation via the TOSCAST control makes this automatic ladle operation that much more efficient and cost effective. Operating as a single cell, the die casting machine by Shibaura Machine has taken what was once a tedious, highly error-prone task and transformed it into a quick, repeatable process. 

Contact the Die Casting Team to learn more about the integrated automatic ladle system.

• Phone: (888) 593-1616
• Email: dc-sales@shibaura-machine.com