COLD CLEAN-OUT BLOCK

After each change of alloy, and also after

every shift, a clean-out block should be
used to remove the build-up of oxide skin
from the liner of the container.

PURPOSE
• Clean-out block is pushed through a
heated container by the dummy block

• It should remove all the aluminum left on

the inner bore of the liner after repeated
extrusion cycles

FUNCTION
A dummy block that is working properly
will leave approximately .005” (.25 mm) of
aluminum on the inside of the liner. The
clean out block should remove this, having
The Castool Clean-out Block has been designed for maximum efficiency
zero clearance with the liner in the heated
in cleaning the liner wall. The block is long enough to sit on the billet
condition.
loader and travel through the liner smoothly. It is made to be used at room
temperature to make handling safer and to achieve better dimensional
When ordering a clean-out block, it is
control. The block is made hollow to reduce weight and wire cut at both
important to accurately measure the
ends to allow it to flex slightly and retain contact with the liner wall.
current bore of the entire length of the
container. Normally a container may be
Once the customer has supplied the minimum container liner diameter
used for an extended period, but especially
at room temperature and the operating temperature of the liner during
if hard alloys are being extruded, over time
operation, Castool applies the thermal expansion factors for both the
the actual diameter will increase.
liner and the clean-out block to calculate the best diameter for the cold
clean-out.
Temperature control of both container
and dummy block is critical for efficient
The Castool clean-out block is precisely sized to meet the requirements
extrusion. Taper heating of the billet,
of each individual container, and to remove the maximum amount of skull,
however, makes cooling of the dummy
without abrading the liner wall.
block no longer necessary.
Alloy Skin
Also, neither clean-out blocks nor
The amount of expansion of the dummy block is carefully calculated and
dummy blocks can operate effectively if
controlled in order to leave a thin film of alloy, or “skull”, on the liner of the
the container has become out of round,
container, as the dummy block shears the metal during its forward stroke.
bellied, or gouged. Such containers
The container then has a residual built-up oxide layer prior to the next billet
should either be relined, or replaced.
being loaded. After billet upset, the oxide layer of the new billet mixes with
the previous layer left in the container. When the alloy is changed, there is
then a possibility of contamination. This can result in defects in surface
finish, or in structural properties.

The dummy block should never remove the skull completely, because it
separates the outer surface of the dummy block from the liner of the
container. If there is no alloy left, it usually indicates that the dummy block
is not contracting on the return stroke. Scrap from the skin of the billet
being extruded, as well as blisters and other defects in the product,
will result.
continued...
BENEFITS of the Castool Billet Impurities
Through the ongoing development of metal treatment and casting
Cold Clean-out Block technologies, the quality of aluminum alloy billets is constantly improving.
The outer skin of the billet, however, is inevitably oxidized, and often also
• It is relatively safe to handle, marred by surface impurities and minor inclusions.
because it is hollow/light and
room temperature Aluminum’s property of sticking to steel causes the oxide skin of the
billet to remain fused to the interior surface of the container liner during
• Because it is quite long, it can sit extrusion. It is important to prevent this layer of tainted alloy from sliding
on the billet loader and also enter forward towards the die.
the liner bore without skewing
Forming the Butt
• When properly sized, most of the During the extrusion stroke, as the billet is pressed through the container,
alloy left in the container bore the flow into the die is from the center of the billet. Oxides and other
is removed impurities from the skin then collect in a dead metal zone at the end of the
container. Extrusion is stopped before this contaminated alloy is carried
With Cold Clean-out Blocks, Castool through the die into the product. It then forms the butt that adheres to
again sets a new standard of excellence the back of the die stack, and is discarded.
in the extrusion industry.
Use of Cold Clean Out Block
Between alloy changes:
Results may vary depending on individual
press characteristics and setup. • One alloy family to another (for example 6XXX to 5XXX or
7XXX to 2XXX)

• Within an alloy family: as required by product quality demands

• Within an alloy family (6XXX alloys only): when changing from a

hard 6XXX alloy to a soft alloy (from 6061 alloy to 6063)

When encountering persistent blister along length of extrusion:

• Use cold clean out block to remove skin build up in container

• Note: May need to do this every few billets. This is just a

temporary fix. The real cause of the problem needs to be addressed
(for example, container liner is worn or bellied; there is stem to
container misalignment; or dummy block is in need of replacement).

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July 2018

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