Centrifugal casting, or
centrifuging, is used as a means of casting small, detailed parts or jewelry. An articulated arm is free to spin around a vertical axle, which is driven by an electric motor or a spring. The entire mechanism is enclosed in a tub or drum to contain hot metal should the mold break or an excess of metal be used. Single use molds are prepared using the
lost wax method. A small amount of metal in a
crucible next to the mold is heated with a torch. When the metal is molten the arm is released, forcing (by centrifugal force) the metal into the mold. The high forces imposed on the metal overcome the viscosity, resulting in a finely detailed workpiece. A similar advantage may be obtained by
vacuum casting or
pressure casting. For casting of small parts using hot metal, a disk shaped mold is contained within a rotating drum, and molten metal is poured into the center. ==Machinery==