A method of forming a component includes the steps of placing a core into a mold and pouring a component material around the core. The component material is allowed to solidify. The core is then removed from within the material, leaving a component having at least a first and a second cavity formed by the core. A first filler material is moved into the first cavity, and a second filler material is moved into the second cavity. The component is inspected for the presence of an apparent residual core within the first cavity and the second cavity. The location is identified of the apparent residual core from the core based upon an identification of whether the location of the apparent residual core is in the first or second filler materials. A method of inspecting a component formed by investment casting is also disclosed.

A metallurgical container (1) includes an outer wall (2), at least one connection element (4) for an electrode which is to be connected and/or a support element which is to be connected, and at least one transponder (3) which is surrounded by a protective housing (6) and can be read wirelessly. The transponder (3) is at a distance from the outer wall (2) on the container (1).

A metallurgical container (1) includes an outer wall (2), at least one connection element (4) for an electrode which is to be connected and/or a support element which is to be connected, and at least one transponder (3) which is surrounded by a protective housing (6) and can be read wirelessly. The transponder (3) is at a distance from the outer wall (2) on the container (1).

The invention relates to the field of aluminum wheel casting molds, and more particularly relates to a closed-loop control method and system for a mold temperature in a wheel casting process. The control method includes: step 1, acquiring data, that is, acquiring a plurality of mold position temperatures, and cooling pipeline opening and closing signals in a target wheel casting process according to a fixed frequency; step 2, storing, based on acquired mold opening and closing signals of casting equipment, the acquired data in a database in the form of a unique ID according to a single wheel casting process; step 3, calculating new process parameters based on the acquired plurality of position temperatures and time; and step 4, integrating the calculated process parameters, and issuing the process parameters to a PLC of a casting equipment to perform new casting. According to the invention, the temperature control parameters are calculated based on the acquired temperature data and time process to form the temperature control process of the casting process, which solves the technical problem of significant fluctuations in the quality of the low-pressure casting process of aluminum wheels and improves casting stability and yield.

A method of casting is provided, wherein a molten material is introduced into a mould such that the molten material flows out of the mould, wherein once a desired temperature of the mould is achieved, the molten material is prevented from flowing out of the mould such that the molten material at least partially fills the mould.

A method of casting is provided, wherein a molten material is introduced into a mould such that the molten material flows out of the mould, wherein once a desired temperature of the mould is achieved, the molten material is prevented from flowing out of the mould such that the molten material at least partially fills the mould.

A casting plant to produce a cast product with a high quality and a method for managing data for molding the mold and data on the conditions of the molten metal in the casting plant are provided. The controller (11) for the molding unit issues a serial number for the mold to a mold (M). The controller (31) for the unit for conveying the molds shifts the serial number for the mold in accordance with a movement of the mold. It also gathers data on the mold and links the data for molding the mold with the serial number for the mold. When the molten metal is poured from the ladle into the mold, the controller (71) for the unit for pouring the molten metal sends to the computer (91) for controlling the casting plant the serial number for the ladle that is linked with the data on the conditions of the molten metal and that is linked with the serial number for the mold.

A casting plant to produce a cast product with a high quality and a method for managing data for molding the mold and data on the conditions of the molten metal in the casting plant are provided. The controller (11) for the molding unit issues a serial number for the mold to a mold (M). The controller (31) for the unit for conveying the molds shifts the serial number for the mold in accordance with a movement of the mold. It also gathers data on the mold and links the data for molding the mold with the serial number for the mold. When the molten metal is poured from the ladle into the mold, the controller (71) for the unit for pouring the molten metal sends to the computer (91) for controlling the casting plant the serial number for the ladle that is linked with the data on the conditions of the molten metal and that is linked with the serial number for the mold.

A system and method of characterizing drops of printing material in a 3D printer is disclosed, which includes ejecting a drop from a nozzle of an ejector in the 3D printer, intersecting the drop with a beam while the drop is in-flight, and determining one or more physical characteristics of the drop. The system and method may include where the drop intersects the beam between the nozzle and a substrate of the 3D printer or the drop intersects the beam between the nozzle and a top surface of a part printed by the 3D printer. The beam is located between an emitter and a detector are each positioned external to one or more side walls of a 3D printer. A physical characteristic of the drop may include drop size, drop shape, or drop mass and comparison with a reference.

A system and method of characterizing drops of printing material in a 3D printer is disclosed, which includes ejecting a drop from a nozzle of an ejector in the 3D printer, intersecting the drop with a beam while the drop is in-flight, and determining one or more physical characteristics of the drop. The system and method may include where the drop intersects the beam between the nozzle and a substrate of the 3D printer or the drop intersects the beam between the nozzle and a top surface of a part printed by the 3D printer. The beam is located between an emitter and a detector are each positioned external to one or more side walls of a 3D printer. A physical characteristic of the drop may include drop size, drop shape, or drop mass and comparison with a reference.