Titan ReloadingInline FabricationReloading EverythingWideners
Load DataLee PrecisionMidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackbox
RotoMetals2
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Casting Machine Plans

  1. #1
    Cast Boolits Owner



    No_1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    N.E. Florida
    Posts
    12,606

    Casting Machine Plans

    Does anyone have plans for a casting machine? It can be a single or multiple mould machine, manual or automatic.

    Thanks in advance,

    Robert
    "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
    - Albert Camus -

  2. #2
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    84
    Hello,

    Try the Yahoo group Hobbicast.
    They are really into this sort of thing

    John

  3. #3
    Cast Boolits Owner



    No_1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    N.E. Florida
    Posts
    12,606
    Thanks for the pointer.

    I know the single mould manual units can be bought for around $1000 but I wanted to build something along the lines of a 2 mould unit that could be automated in such a way that you could set up the moulds, put ingots in the pot, turn it on and when the melt gets to the proper temp it would start casting. I believe the key to the operation would be a PID controller with some additional sensors that would start the process once the melt reached temp. I guess I could save myself a lot of time and headaches if I get a single moud unit, add the PID controller and features I want then set up a drive system to cast boolits. Any thoughts on this idea?

    Robert
    "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
    - Albert Camus -

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.E. Missouri
    Posts
    354
    Robert have you gone to Magmas site and looked at their drawings ? The machines are very simple

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Davenport, IA
    Posts
    405
    Search this site for posts by jmorris. He made one and other useful automated tools. Quite a guy.

    Paul

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Look at the Ballisticast 2 mold hand unit it would be a good starting point for your idea. Use Magma's mounting system or something similar, Ballisticast's suck.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    ANeat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    SW Ohio
    Posts
    1,307
    There was someone who automated one of the manual Magma machines, I cant track that down yet.

    Some good info on the patent search.

    http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4624297.pdf

    http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3709288.pdf


    And here is JMorris creation that pjh421 mentioned, fine work indeed

    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...8&postcount=46
    Last edited by ANeat; 12-21-2009 at 12:26 PM.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    southern Illinois
    Posts
    2,352

    I built one

    I made /have a homemade fully automated caster. It uses 1 Lyman 4cavity mold. It runs with air cylinders and is controlled by timers. I can't find my piks but if you are interested, I look for them. It makes about 1000 to 1200 boolits/hour.

  9. #9
    Cast Boolits Owner



    No_1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    N.E. Florida
    Posts
    12,606
    Gentlemen,

    Thank you very much for all the information and links. Please keep them coming.
    The patents give me the "inside" look on the current items being offered from the manufacturers. I had already decided on trying to use a Magma style mold adapters system. I pulled up the link on Jmorris' stuff but cannot view the pictures from work.

    Mr Castalott, I would very much like to see the pictures of your setup if it is not too much trouble.

    Robert
    "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
    - Albert Camus -

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    southern Illinois
    Posts
    2,352

    hmmmm...

    Hi No1!

    There are ,I think, 2 threads on this site with piks of my older machine. You might try a search for 'homemade bullet caster'.

    This is one of them...

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...omemade+caster

    That is the one I rebuilt to what I have now. A lot different mechanically/electrically.The new one is better in many ways but not all ways.

    With all the different timers, you can determine how long the sprue cools before it cuts and how long the blocks stay open to cool before they close back together to start the next cycle.

    The mold still rotates up underneath the pot and the pot moves as it pours to fill the mold. Time of the move, speed of the move , and fill on the move are all variable. A timer determines how long the mold stays up to cool. It then rotates down and the sprue is sheared. After the sprue shears, the blocks open and a timer determines how long the blocks stay open to cool. It is all adjustable on the go. The last model has provisions for a second pot to keep the bottom pot filled.

    Building the machine was as much fun as casting with it...I need to get some piks of the latest model... I'll be glad to help any way I can....

    Dale

    Oh, A guy in Ohio built a much more simple machine that ran with 2 cavity molds. Look on the accurate reloading forums. Maybe it is still there.

  11. #11
    Cast Boolits Owner



    No_1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    N.E. Florida
    Posts
    12,606
    Thanks Dale and everyone for all the info. I have an idea in my head (kind of) and will continue gathering info.

    Robert
    "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
    - Albert Camus -

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check