The casting mold is provided with: the molding wall portion forming the internal space; and the filling ports that open to the molding wall portion and that allow the molten metal to flow into the internal space. In this configuration the channel center lines of the filling ports intersect the surface of the heater at the non-perpendicular contact angle.

The casting mold is provided with: the molding wall portion forming the internal space; and the filling ports that open to the molding wall portion and that allow the molten metal to flow into the internal space. In this configuration the channel center lines of the filling ports intersect the surface of the heater at the non-perpendicular contact angle.

The casting mold is provided with: the molding wall portion forming the internal space; and the filling ports that open to the molding wall portion and that allow the molten metal to flow into the internal space. In this configuration the channel center lines of the filling ports intersect the surface of the heater at the non-perpendicular contact angle.

A core molding method capable of satisfactorily exhausting a gaseous body such as gas or water vapor that is generated inside an outer shell layer when a raw material is cured is provided. A core molding method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a molding method of a core formed of a raw material including a binder and sand, and includes: filling a cavity of a molding die with the raw material; curing the raw material to form an outer shell layer; inserting a tip end part of an exhaust pipe having an internal pin inserted therein and an exhaust hole closed by the internal pin into a part surrounded by the outer shell layer through an opening provided in the molding die; and moving the internal pin and opening the exhaust hole.

A core molding method capable of satisfactorily exhausting a gaseous body such as gas or water vapor that is generated inside an outer shell layer when a raw material is cured is provided. A core molding method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a molding method of a core formed of a raw material including a binder and sand, and includes: filling a cavity of a molding die with the raw material; curing the raw material to form an outer shell layer; inserting a tip end part of an exhaust pipe having an internal pin inserted therein and an exhaust hole closed by the internal pin into a part surrounded by the outer shell layer through an opening provided in the molding die; and moving the internal pin and opening the exhaust hole.

Method and apparatus for feeding said molds laterally and/or between stations of differing heights. The method and apparatus of this invention utilize walking-beam-type conveyors having spaced apart fixed outboard rails and a central reciprocating rail. Walking-beam conveyors can be disposed in perpendicular directions with a junction therebetween that allows for a perpendicular change in direction. The method and apparatus of this invention include lift, leveling, and/or lateral transfer mechanisms for lateral placement of the stations relative to the conveyance path.

Provided is a sand mold digital flexible extrusion near-net forming optimization method based on a search algorithm. The method includes: dividing a sand mold Computer Aided Design (CAD) 3D model near-net forming region; acquiring a curved surface function of a near-net forming sand mold CAD 3D model cavity; constructing a flexible extrusion array envelope volume optimization objective function; determining a valid optimization interval R; translating the position of a sand mold CAD 3D model cavity to a search initial position; performing a global search in the valid optimization interval R, comparing flexible extrusion array envelope volume values, and saving the larger value as V(x,y).sub.max and the corresponding position as (x,y).sub.max; and completing the search, translating the position of the near-net forming sand mold CAD 3D model cavity to (x,y).sub.max, and executing a flexible extrusion array shape adjusting procedure.

Provided is a sand mold digital flexible extrusion near-net forming optimization method based on a search algorithm. The method includes: dividing a sand mold Computer Aided Design (CAD) 3D model near-net forming region; acquiring a curved surface function of a near-net forming sand mold CAD 3D model cavity; constructing a flexible extrusion array envelope volume optimization objective function; determining a valid optimization interval R; translating the position of a sand mold CAD 3D model cavity to a search initial position; performing a global search in the valid optimization interval R, comparing flexible extrusion array envelope volume values, and saving the larger value as V(x,y).sub.max and the corresponding position as (x,y).sub.max; and completing the search, translating the position of the near-net forming sand mold CAD 3D model cavity to (x,y).sub.max, and executing a flexible extrusion array shape adjusting procedure.

The method for the stepwise production and advancing of sand mold parts in a mold-string foundry plant comprising a station (1) for making mold parts, a pouring station (3) and a conveyor (2) for stepwise advancing of mold parts (101-109) from said station (1) for making mold parts towards said pouring station (3), includes the step of double indexing the mold parts using a first, moveable, part (21) of the conveyor. By double indexing the mold string, the time during which pouring into the molds has to be interrupted can be reduced.

The method for the stepwise production and advancing of sand mold parts in a mold-string foundry plant comprising a station (1) for making mold parts, a pouring station (3) and a conveyor (2) for stepwise advancing of mold parts (101-109) from said station (1) for making mold parts towards said pouring station (3), includes the step of double indexing the mold parts using a first, moveable, part (21) of the conveyor. By double indexing the mold string, the time during which pouring into the molds has to be interrupted can be reduced.