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Centrifugal casting with built-in electrical melting

#1

crucible
Sender: owner-orchid@ganoksin.com
Precedence: bulk

 So I looked on the web, but there is no Thermotrol. If this type
of unit is so good, why are they not in the catalogs? Are they
extinct?

Thermotrol machines, if I recall correctly stopped being made
sometime in the early 80’s. Dunno why, or who made them. One of the
dental machine manufacturers, I think. I do recall something about
their reputation though. They did a decent job, melting metal in much
the same way the kerr electromelt furnaces do. The graphite melting
crucible helped much with oxidation of the metal, reducing some types
of porosity. The trouble with them was that the graphite crucibles
weren’t cleap, and didn’t last long, and like some of the
electromelts, sometimes tended to overshoot the desired melt temp
before settling back down to the setting. So some alloys would loose
more of their deoxidizers than with torch melting, which mostly
affected how much new metal to old metal you needed to use. I might
be remembering this last bit wrong, but that’s what I recall…

Hope that helps.

Peter -

#2

crucible
Sender: owner-orchid@ganoksin.com
Precedence: bulk

Stan - The manufacturer of this (Thermotrol) type machine was
Jelenko. They are still around, and still make dental units (which
this was). I don’t recollect their website address, but they show
several different sorts of casting equipment, and have contact names.

Jim Small
Small Wonders

#3 
     So I looked on the web, but there is no Thermotrol. If this
type of unit is so good, why are they not in the catalogs? Are they
extinct?

Thermotrol machines, if I recall correctly stopped being made
sometime in the early 80’s. Dunno why, or who made them. One of
the dental machine manufacturers, I think. I do recall something
about their reputation though. They did a decent job, melting metal
in much the same way the kerr electromelt furnaces do. The graphite
melting crucible helped much with oxidation of the metal, reducing
some types of porosity. The trouble with them was that the graphite
crucibles weren’t cleap, and didn’t last long, and like some of the
electromelts, sometimes tended to overshoot the desired melt temp
before settling back down to the setting. So some alloys would
loose more of their deoxidizers than with torch melting, which mostly
affected how much new metal to old metal you needed to use. I might
be remembering this last bit wrong, but that’s what I recall…

Hope that helps.
Peter -

#4 
The manufacturer of this (Thermotrol) type machine was Jelenko.
They are still around, and still make dental units (which this
was). I don't recollect their website address, but they show

Indeed, the casting machine called Thermotrol was manufactured and
sold by Jelenko, a supplier of dental products and gold alloys used
in dentistry. Their website is http://www.jelenko.com/mainus.html.
Jelenko was an old established company originally associated with
the dental profession and they manufactured in addition to casting
machines, kilns with vacuums for firing porcelain. (I always thought
I’d like to try firing enamels under vacuum, thinking that it might
result in a more brilliant transparency.) But I never did get to
play with these kilns as yet. They are still around, but have been
acquired by a European company in 1996 and they no longer sell the
thermatrol. I think Peter Rowe’s explanation of why is correct, but
I did enjoy using the thermatrol casting about 20 odd years ago. I
don’t believe you can still get replacement crucibles so I don’t
think buying the machine is wise.

They do sell a self-contained casting unit now and you can see it
along with the specs on their website by clicking on Cast Pro. Joe
Dule

#5

I used a Jelenko Thermotrol for nearly 10 years and loved it. The
little electric muffle oven with its graphite crucible was a perfect
environment and gave me perfect casts. The machine was about 20
years old when it came to me and I casts hundreds of items with it.
Then a lead to the oven burned out and I could not repair it.
Unfortunately, it went the way of all such old machines…I gave it
back to the guy who had lent it to me! Great machine!! Cheers from
Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple elegance IS fine
jewelry! @coralnut1

#6

Don: I bought a Thermotrol I 3 , 35 years ago plus a 3 cu,ft gas
Oven with a West cam programer for $1200,00cash It did have a platimun
wire to the furnace get burned out. I I had loaded 17 oz. of sterling
and I missed releasing it and didn,t check the crucible before I cast
again and it had some silver in the crucible and that shorted out the
system. I took it apart and found a company here in Los Angeles that
fixed insturments ans they helio Arck welded it back together and I
installed it and it has worked great ever sence. But I don;t cast
more than 14 oz of silver or gold any more. All my casting have came
out great,as some are quite finein detail. I don,t set the resistance
on the meter above 6 As for the little grafite crucibles I called
Swest and they sent me several. They are expensive but I look it this
If you want things to go well you have to have good equipment. I love
the temp setting dial and I cast on the first busser which tell me
the metal is ready to cast. Yours Billy S, Bates royalminiatures.com
Happy Thanksgiving to ALL

#7

Don, I believe they have one of these machines on E-Bay at this
time. E-Bay item #1921293428 and the current asking price is $70.00

They are calling it, JELENKO ELECTRIC CASTING MACHINE and the
auction ends sometime on December 3, 2002.

Or you can try calling the Jelenko Company directly, they are
located in Armonk, New York. There last known telephone numbers that
I had on them were, (800) 431-1785 or (914) 273-8600 and there Fax #
(914) 273-9397.

I hope that the above helps you out, and if you should
require any additional please do not hesitate to
contact me at: (800) 332-5573.

Sincerely, Richard Lucas Lucas Dental Co. 18 Herkimer Place
Brooklyn,
NY 11216 Manufacturers of Spring Driven Centrifugal Casting Machines
since 1930. http://community.webtv.net/lucadent