A maintenance station for casting molds is provided with a handling device on which a spraying device is disposed. The spraying device sprays a cleaning medium onto a surface of at least one casting mold. The cleaning medium is a mixture of compressed air and abrasive particles. A maintenance method for the casting mold in the maintenance station is also provided.

A maintenance station for casting molds is provided with a handling device on which a spraying device is disposed. The spraying device sprays a cleaning medium onto a surface of at least one casting mold. The cleaning medium is a mixture of compressed air and abrasive particles. A maintenance method for the casting mold in the maintenance station is also provided.

A melting pot includes a pot body and a float salvaging apparatus. The pot body is provided with a melting chamber having an open upper end. The float salvaging apparatus includes a hanging bracket, a bearing plate, a rotating plate and a drive assembly configured to drive pivoting of the rotating plate. The hanging bracket is disposed above the melting chamber. The rotating plate is pivotably disposed on the bearing plate, and the bearing plate and the rotating plate are provided on the hanging bracket between an initial position and a first salvaging position in a manner of moving up and down. The drive assembly is connected to the rotating plate.

A melting pot includes a pot body and a float salvaging apparatus. The pot body is provided with a melting chamber having an open upper end. The float salvaging apparatus includes a hanging bracket, a bearing plate, a rotating plate and a drive assembly configured to drive pivoting of the rotating plate. The hanging bracket is disposed above the melting chamber. The rotating plate is pivotably disposed on the bearing plate, and the bearing plate and the rotating plate are provided on the hanging bracket between an initial position and a first salvaging position in a manner of moving up and down. The drive assembly is connected to the rotating plate.

Apparatus and a method for filtering molten metal, in particular aluminium, including a container (1) with a removable lid (20) provided on top of the container to keep the container sealed (air tight) during operation, the container (1) being provided with an inlet chamber (2) having an inlet opening (5) receiving metal from a metal supply launder (10) and outlet chamber (3) with outlet opening (6) connected to a launder segment (10). The container further being provided with partition wall (8) between the inlet chamber (2) and outlet chamber (3) and with ceramic foam filter (17) mounted in the outlet chamber. The inlet chamber (2) and outlet chamber (3) are provided side by side within the container (1) and being split by the partition wall (8) extending from the bottom of the container and upwardly to a preset level of the container interior height. The container (1) is connected in parallel with the metal supply launder (10) via stubs (5, 6) that communicates with the inlet (5) and outlet (6) openings respectively, the launder (10) being provided with a dam (14) or valve device downstream the outlet (6) of the container (1) and another dam or valve device (13) between the said launder stubs (5 and 6). Inside the container (1) there is further arranged a second outlet chamber (4) with a filter (17) that when in use, communicates with the first outlet chamber (3) via a space above a partition wall (8) extending from the bottom of the container and upwardly to a preset level of the container interior height, where the second outlet chamber (4) has one outlet (7) provided by a stub (7) connected to a launder segment (10) being in connection with metal supply launder (10). The second outlet chamber (4) is used for increasing the filter capacity when producing metal with a high cleanliness.

A filter for filtering a liquid metal and to be received in a mold housing defined by internal side and face walls. The filter has a top wall and side walls extending downwardly from the top wall, the side walls being joined together at respective corners. The side walls extend downwardly towards distal end portions. The corners of the filter have a stiffness or rigidity that is higher that the remainder of the filter for increasing the strength of the overall filter and for helping the filter to maintain its shape and integrity throughout casting. The shape of the side walls allows an easy and consistent placement of the filter in the mold housing and ensures that the filter is maintained in place.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

A method and an installation (10) for removing slag allows both slag removal and metal recovery from slag (60) to be performed quickly and easily. The risk of slag fires is reduced.

A dross extraction system for a printer is disclosed, which includes an ejector defining an inner cavity associated therewith, the inner cavity retaining a liquid printing material. The dross extraction system also includes a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity of the ejector, a probe external to the ejector, which is selectably positionable to contact the liquid printing material to attract dross thereto, thereby extracting dross from the liquid printing material when the probe is withdrawn from the liquid printing material. A method of extracting dross from a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the metal jetting printer, advancing a probe into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir in the metal jetting printer, extracting dross from the metal printing material and onto the probe, retracting the probe from the nozzle pump reservoir, and resuming the operation of the metal jetting printer.

A dross extraction system for a printer is disclosed, which includes an ejector defining an inner cavity associated therewith, the inner cavity retaining a liquid printing material. The dross extraction system also includes a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity of the ejector, a probe external to the ejector, which is selectably positionable to contact the liquid printing material to attract dross thereto, thereby extracting dross from the liquid printing material when the probe is withdrawn from the liquid printing material. A method of extracting dross from a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the metal jetting printer, advancing a probe into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir in the metal jetting printer, extracting dross from the metal printing material and onto the probe, retracting the probe from the nozzle pump reservoir, and resuming the operation of the metal jetting printer.