<p>An electric melting furnace is provided for optimally melting and mixing a non-homogeneous material. The melting furnace includes a vessel having its top portion open to the environment. Three electrodes are supported above the furnace. Each of the electrodes includes a tip for insertion into the material contained in the vessel. The vessel further includes an outlet formed in the bottom wall of the vessel to discharge the material after it has been melted and optimally mixed. Each of the three electrode tips has a generally round configuration. During the melting operation, the three electrode tips are laterally spaced from each other and are positioned in the vessel to be surrounded by molten material but above the bottom wall outlet. Optimum melting and then optimum mixing of the material occurs at selected horizontal spacings of the electrode tips and at selected electrode tip immersions in the molten material. The lateral spacing of the electrode tips and the immersion thereof depends upon a number of conditions including the width or diameter of the vessel, the magnitude of power applied to the electrodes, and the desired temperature of the molten material contained in the vessel.</p>
