Electric Kiln for Metal Melting

From Open Source Ecology
Jump to: navigation, search

Advantages

  • Low cost - essentially the cost of a $10 kiln heating element, and balance for refractory material and steel for case and legs.

Howto

  • Connect 2 heating elements by threading around a threaded rod - 3:30
  • 1.5 meters long works for 250V - 3:40
  • Resistance in his case - 33 Ohm when cold - 3:45
  • Fire Bricks - 5:20. Note CEBs work well as fire bricks per results from Hydronic Stove, and results would probably improve if we used perlite. This would be a good product.

BOM

  • Kiln Heating Element - $10 - [1]
  • Clay graphite crucible - 10kg for $40 - [2]
  • Make your own graphite crucibles - flake graphite - 25 cents/lb for ton quantities. Or 16 lb (1 gal) for $45 [3]
  • Silicon carbide - $1.75/lb - [4]

DIY Clay Graphite Crucibles

Limits

  • Nichrome wire melts at 1400C
  • Kanthal wire melts at 1500C - good for steel melting? [6]
  • 20kW, 150lb aluminum furnace - [7]
  • 2350F for this one - [8]

Industry Standards

  • $150 on Alibaba - [9]
  • $300 for 1.5 kW small electric - [10]
  • 1.6kW 3 kg - $300 - [11]

See Also

Useful Links