Understand the importance of castings for mining

Castings are one of the most important items in mining. They need to be durable and perform well to ensure continuous operation with productivity.

A large part of the costs of a quarry or mining company are concentrated in the parts. However, this cost must be balanced with durability and performance. Durable materials bring savings in the long term, by generating fewer replacements and unexpected downtimes.

In this article, we will show you the factors that influence the choice of a parts supplier, such as Máquinas Furlan. The company develops customized projects, focusing on customer success.

What is a wear part and spare part in mining?

Mining castings must be designed and selected based on material properties, specific application, and operating conditions. This will ensure that these parts offer adequate strength, durability, and performance.

Basically, quarries and mining companies use two types of parts: wear parts and replacement parts.

Wear and tear are components or parts of equipment subject to a gradual deterioration process over time. The severe conditions of the deposits and constant use in extraction are the main factors of wear and tear.

These are items that are commonly exposed to abrasion, impact, corrosion, high pressure and adverse environmental factors. In the process, regular replacement or maintenance helps maintain the operational efficiency and safety of the equipment.

Spare parts are components or parts of a device, machine or equipment kept in stock for replacement in case of failure, excessive wear, damage or malfunction. They are essential to maintain continuous and efficient operation.

In general, they are also important in the company's budget. Experts estimate that parts represent up to two-thirds of this budget.

What to consider when choosing a casting

Parts play an essential role in mining. They are present in machinery used in mineral extraction, processing and transportation operations.

The Furlan team has listed some important points to be considered in mining castings. See:

. Operating Conditions

This is essential information that the customer must have in order to achieve or exceed the expected result. The temperature, humidity, aggressiveness of the material being processed and other specific conditions should guide the choice of the casting design.

. Casting material

Parts need to be resistant to wear, abrasion, impact and, in some cases, corrosion. Materials such as manganese steel, white cast iron, carbon steel, refractory steel and special alloys are often used due to their strength properties.

. Part design

The design of the casting must take into account the specific application and is then optimized for that purpose. This includes geometry, thickness, draft angles and other characteristics that affect wear and impact resistance.

. Heat Treatment and Post-Casting

Post-casting heat treatments, such as quenching and tempering, improve the strength and durability of parts. The application in the deposit guides the decision for improvement at the time of production of the part.

For example, tempering increases the hardness and mechanical strength of the steel structure.

. Quality Inspection

Strict quality control is essential. Inspection ensures that parts meet strength and dimensional standards.

. Material compatibility

During operation, castings come into contact with other components such as coatings or wear elements.

At this point, material compatibility must be considered to avoid problems such as premature corrosion and wear.

. Corrosion Resistance

Corrosion-prone environments require that resistance measures be adopted in the manufacture of cast material. This is the case in humid or aggressive environments, where choosing corrosion-resistant materials is essential. 

. Maintenance and Replacement

Planning for proper maintenance and replacement prevents disruptions in operation and maximizes efficiency.

. Parts costs

Cost must be balanced against durability and performance. Investing in higher-quality materials generates long-term savings by reducing the number of interruptions or even replacements.

Furlan executes customized projects of castings for mining

One of the largest suppliers of castings in Brazil, Máquinas Furlan develops customized projects that prioritize durability. Quarries notice that this customization generates solutions that best suit their needs.

The company has an experienced team that performs accurate project diagnostics. It also performs all metallurgical processes internally. Furlan also has its own brand of mining machinery. Furlan's Equipment division is one of the company's Foundry clients.

It also has a collection of more than 12 thousand models of parts and components for the Furlan brand and other national and international brands.

So, gather information about your deposit and contact us. Click here

Strict quality control is essential. Inspection ensures that parts meet strength and dimensional standards.