A green sand mold molding sensor including a pressure sensor for evaluating moldability of a green sand mold molded by a casting mold molding machine, wherein the pressure sensor is embedded in a squeeze board or squeeze feet that compresses green sand.

A method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy cylinder head includes providing a precision sand core and mold assembly, a liquid aluminum alloy delivery system, and a mold manipulator system. The precision sand core and mold assembly is disposed in the mold manipulator system and the liquid aluminum alloy delivery system includes an in-furnace ultrasonic actuator and a launder tube having at least an ultrasonic actuator. The liquid aluminum alloy delivery system is sealed to the precision sand core and mold assembly and provides liquid aluminum alloy into a gating system of the precision sand core and mold assembly. The precision sand core and mold assembly is rotated approximately 180. The precision sand core and mold assembly is vibrated.

A mold-shift detection device for upper and lower molds molded and assembled with each other by a flaskless molding machine, comprises: a first distance sensor measuring a distance by irradiating side surfaces of the upper and lower molds with light; a cylinder causing the first distance sensor to scan the side surfaces of the upper and lower molds; and a controller detecting a mold-shift between the upper and lower molds, based on a measurement result in a scan range.

A method for manufacturing a golf club head having a weight member includes: providing a weight block made of a metal material; disposing an isolation layer on the weight block to form the weight member; delivering a wax material to form a wax pattern covering a portion of the weight member; coating the weight member and the wax pattern with a shell mold plaster to form a shell mold covering the same; performing a de-waxing process which leaves a mold cavity in the shell mold; and casting a molten metal material in the mold cavity to form a club head main body, and removing the shell mold to form the golf club head having the weight member embedded in the club head main body. A golf club head manufactured by the method is also disclosed.

A hard tool configuration and method of manufacturing advanced detailed trailing edge features in a core for casting. The hard tool configuration includes at least a first platform and a second platform. The hard tool configuration also includes a first end of a plurality of removable rake elements removably attached to at least one of the first platform and the second platform. The hard tool configuration also includes an internal mold geometry in a spacing in between the center facing side of the first platform and the center facing side of the second platform.

A hard tool configuration and method of manufacturing advanced detailed trailing edge features in a core for casting. The hard tool configuration includes at least a first platform and a second platform. The hard tool configuration also includes a first end of a plurality of removable rake elements removably attached to at least one of the first platform and the second platform. The hard tool configuration also includes an internal mold geometry in a spacing in between the center facing side of the first platform and the center facing side of the second platform.

A mold assembly cell for sand mold production comprising a turntable wherein sand cores and other mold parts (which together cooperate to define the casting cavity of the sand mold) are automatically and progressively assembled following a sequential pre-programmed schedule by programmable robots located in proximal relationship with the turntable and a core shooting machine. The assembly turntable rotates clockwise or counterclockwise to permit placement of progressively more-complete mold packages in each of at least three assembly stations to allow the robots to reach the molds being assembled at different angles for simultaneously setting the sand cores and other parts of the mold according to said pre-programmed assembly schedule. Also a mold assembly line comprising a plurality of the foregoing assembly cells to form sand molds for casting complex-geometry aluminum parts, such as aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads, with greater flexibility, efficiency and productivity.

A method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy cylinder head includes providing a precision sand core and mold assembly, a liquid aluminum alloy delivery system, and a mold manipulator system. The precision sand core and mold assembly is disposed in the mold manipulator system and the liquid aluminum alloy delivery system includes an in-furnace ultrasonic actuator and a launder tube having at least an ultrasonic actuator. The liquid aluminum alloy delivery system is sealed to the precision sand core and mold assembly and provides liquid aluminum alloy into a gating system of the precision sand core and mold assembly. The precision sand core and mold assembly is rotated approximately 180. The precision sand core and mold assembly is vibrated.

An investment casting method includes providing a stock investment casting core, bending the stock investment casting core to thereby form a production investment casting core that conforms to a design cooling passage shape, and casting an alloy around the production investment casting core to form a cast article.

A casting apparatus includes: a mold including a first mold segment and a second mold segment; and a transfer device that is configured to transfer a core to the first mold segment and place the core in the first mold segment, and to receive and transfer a casting. The transfer device includes a support part, a robot arm, a core grasping mechanism being provided on the support part, and a casting receiving part being provided on the support part. The transfer device is configured such that the robot arm moves the core grasping mechanism so as to place the core in the first mold segment, and moves the casting receiving part so as to receive the casting by the casting receiving part.