A method of manufacturing a crankshaft assembly includes configuring a crankshaft with a crankpin journal having a cavity extending at least partially from a first axial side to a second axial side of the crankpin journal, and opening at at least one of the first axial side and the second axial side. The method includes disposing a core plug in the cavity. The crankshaft has a first density and the core plug may have a second density which may be less than the first density. A crankshaft assembly includes the crankshaft and the core plug.

A method of manufacturing a crankshaft assembly includes configuring a crankshaft with a crankpin journal having a cavity extending at least partially from a first axial side to a second axial side of the crankpin journal, and opening at at least one of the first axial side and the second axial side. The method includes disposing a core plug in the cavity. The crankshaft has a first density and the core plug may have a second density which may be less than the first density. A crankshaft assembly includes the crankshaft and the core plug.

A method of casting a casting product having tubular flow passages includes: attaching a cast-in pipe insert, having outer and inner fixing members to which both ends of pipes are coupled, respectively, to a fixed mold; assembling a movable mold with the fixed mold; injecting a molten metal into a cavity defined inside the fixed and movable molds; ejecting a casting product from the assembled molds after injecting the molten metal; and removing the outer and inner fixing members from the casting product.

An aluminum-silicon carbide composite including flat-plate-shaped composited portion containing silicon carbide and an aluminum alloy, and aluminum layers containing an aluminum alloy provided on both plate surfaces of composited portion, wherein circuit board is mounted on one plate surface and the other plate surface is used as heat-dissipating surface, wherein: the heat-dissipating-surface-side plate surface of the composited portion has a convex curved shape; the heat-dissipating-surface-side aluminum layer has a convex curved shape; ratio (Ax/B) between the average (Ax) of the thicknesses at the centers on opposing short sides of outer peripheral surfaces and thickness (B) at central portions of the plate surfaces satisfies the relationship: 0.91≦Ax/B≦1.00; and a ratio (Ay/B) between the average (Ay) of the thicknesses at the centers on opposing long sides of outer peripheral surfaces and thickness (B) at central portions of the plate surfaces satisfies the relationship: 0.94≦Ay/B≦1.00 and production method therefor.

An aluminum-silicon carbide composite including flat-plate-shaped composited portion containing silicon carbide and an aluminum alloy, and aluminum layers containing an aluminum alloy provided on both plate surfaces of composited portion, wherein circuit board is mounted on one plate surface and the other plate surface is used as heat-dissipating surface, wherein: the heat-dissipating-surface-side plate surface of the composited portion has a convex curved shape; the heat-dissipating-surface-side aluminum layer has a convex curved shape; ratio (Ax/B) between the average (Ax) of the thicknesses at the centers on opposing short sides of outer peripheral surfaces and thickness (B) at central portions of the plate surfaces satisfies the relationship: 0.91≦Ax/B≦1.00; and a ratio (Ay/B) between the average (Ay) of the thicknesses at the centers on opposing long sides of outer peripheral surfaces and thickness (B) at central portions of the plate surfaces satisfies the relationship: 0.94≦Ay/B≦1.00 and production method therefor.

A method for manufacturing a ground engaging component is disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of compacted powders including carbon, titanium, and a first alloy, the first alloy having a first composition and heating the mixture to a temperature and for a duration sufficient to combine the mixture to form an insert having a desired shape. The method further includes locating the insert in a desired position in a mold and casting a second alloy having a second composition into the mold, the second alloy forming a ground engaging component with the insert bonded therein.

A method for manufacturing a ground engaging component is disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of compacted powders including carbon, titanium, and a first alloy, the first alloy having a first composition and heating the mixture to a temperature and for a duration sufficient to combine the mixture to form an insert having a desired shape. The method further includes locating the insert in a desired position in a mold and casting a second alloy having a second composition into the mold, the second alloy forming a ground engaging component with the insert bonded therein.

A defective engine block recycling method in a continuous casting line includes inserting a bore pin into an engine block mold, fitting a real liner to an outer circumferential surface of the bore pin, and injecting molten aluminum into the engine block mold to cast an engine block body. If an abnormality is generated in the engine block mold or the molten aluminum and if a defect is expected to generate in the engine block body, a defective engine block unit is produced by fitting a dummy liner, which is made of a material identical with or similar to a material of the engine block body, to the bore pin. The defective engine block unit thus produced is directly melted and recycled.

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for forming a component from a solidified fluid medium. The apparatus comprises a body defining a cavity into which the fluid medium may be introduced, the cavity optionally being shaped to define a shape of the component, and a carrier for supporting one or more elements to be embedded in the component. The carrier is arranged to be introduced into the cavity to support the one or more elements within the cavity while the fluid medium is introduced into the cavity. Embodiments of the invention are useful in a range of fabrication technologies including casting of metals and injection molding operations.

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for forming a component from a solidified fluid medium. The apparatus comprises a body defining a cavity into which the fluid medium may be introduced, the cavity optionally being shaped to define a shape of the component, and a carrier for supporting one or more elements to be embedded in the component. The carrier is arranged to be introduced into the cavity to support the one or more elements within the cavity while the fluid medium is introduced into the cavity. Embodiments of the invention are useful in a range of fabrication technologies including casting of metals and injection molding operations.