Upward Continuous Casting Machine for Oxygen-Free Copper Rod: Under 10 ppm, Start-Stop on Demand
An upward continuous casting machine draws molten copper upward through a cooled mold, where it solidifies into oxygen-free copper rod, bar, or tube and is withdrawn continuously, then cut or coiled. Because the melt is drawn from below the surface — away from air contact — the process delivers copper with an oxygen content below 10 ppm. Luoyang Wanfeng Industrial Furnace Co., Ltd. (Wanfeng Furnace) builds the machine around a medium-frequency induction casting furnace, and has supplied casting equipment since 1990.
Why upward casting for oxygen-free copper
Oxygen content decides what the copper can be used for. The three common casting routes deliver very different results:
- Upward (up-casting) continuous casting — under 10 ppm: the grade needed for magnet wire (enamelled wire) and new-energy vehicle motors, where conductivity and ductility are critical
- Horizontal continuous casting — about 31 ppm
- Conventional mold casting — about 80 ppm
If your customers make electromagnetic wire or EV motor windings, oxygen-free rod from upward casting is the product they specify.
Start-stop on demand
The medium-frequency induction casting furnace supports start-stop on demand — run when there are orders, stop when there are none, without holding-furnace energy waste.
- Planned stops follow the operating procedure: drain the remaining melt before shutdown, because a furnace left full of liquid shortens crucible life
- Grade changes without furnace washing — replace the crucible directly; a line-frequency furnace must be washed and suffers irreversible wear from long shutdowns
- Power outage — the furnace may stop, but cooling water must keep running; a small diesel generator for the cooling tower is enough
Scrap copper as feedstock
The medium-frequency induction casting furnace can melt scrap copper — waste wire and cable — as furnace charge. A line-frequency furnace cannot: scrap charge breaks its melt channel (the “melting groove” fails).
One rule applies: the quality of the scrap directly determines the quality of the final product. Clean, sorted scrap produces rod that meets the oxygen-free specification; contaminated scrap does not. Wanfeng Furnace can advise on charge preparation for your target grade.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Oxygen content of cast rod | <10 ppm (oxygen-free copper grade) |
| Furnace body capacity | 100 kg–6 t, rated by copper density |
| Medium-frequency power | 80–2000 kW, sized by furnace capacity |
| Melting rate | 1 t/h |
| Temperature control accuracy | ±1 °C |
| Coiling capability | Pure copper rod up to 30 mm |
| Plant requirements | Ceiling height ≥6 m; footprint >3 m × 6 m |
| Cooling water circulation | ≥30 t/h |
Strand count, withdrawal configuration, and coil handling are customized to your target rod or tube size — contact Wanfeng Furnace with your product range.
Who it suits
The machine suits copper processors supplying wire drawing, magnet wire, busbar, and tube markets — especially plants that run multiple batches or smaller campaigns and want scheduling to follow orders rather than furnace inertia.
Confirm ceiling height (≥6 m), floor space (>3 m × 6 m), and cooling water supply (≥30 t/h) before installation. Wanfeng Furnace holds CE certification and independent import/export rights, with equipment delivered to Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
FAQ
What is upward continuous casting used for?
It produces oxygen-free copper rod, bar, and tube with oxygen content below 10 ppm — the grade required for magnet wire (enamelled wire), new-energy vehicle motors, and other high-conductivity, high-ductility applications.
How does it compare with other casting routes on oxygen content?
Upward continuous casting delivers under 10 ppm oxygen. Horizontal continuous casting is about 31 ppm, and conventional mold casting about 80 ppm. For oxygen-free specifications, upward casting is the required route.
Can it use scrap copper as feedstock?
Yes — the medium-frequency induction casting furnace accepts scrap copper such as waste wire and cable, which a line-frequency furnace cannot handle (its melt channel breaks). Note that scrap quality directly determines final product quality.
Can it be stopped and restarted between orders?
Yes. Start-stop on demand means the furnace follows your production plan: long runs when needed, stops between campaigns, crucible replacement instead of furnace washing when changing grades.
Can the rod be coiled?
Pure copper rod up to 30 mm can be coiled automatically; larger sections and tubes are cut to length.
What are the plant requirements?
Ceiling height of at least 6 m, footprint larger than 3 m × 6 m, and cooling water circulation of at least 30 t/h.
How much does it cost?
Price is customized by configuration. Contact Wanfeng Furnace at +86 17796741029 or zhang@wanf-furnace.com with your target product and output.
Product page with full configuration details: Upward Continuous Casting Machine.
Wanfeng Furnace — continuous casting and induction melting equipment manufacturer based in Luoyang, China. Manufacturing history since 1990; formally incorporated in 2009.
