Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

The foundry production line includes a sand moulding machine, a melt pouring device, a shakeout machine, a finishing apparatus, an inspection station and a computer controlled database system. A pattern plate is provided with a sand mould identification device including a plurality of individually adjustable indicator elements adapted to impress an identification pattern in a sand mould part. Each indicator element has rounded edges and indicates a direction. An automatic image detection system includes an imaging device arranged at the inspection station and being adapted to provide a digital image of an individual identification pattern formed in a cleaned casting. The automatic image detection system includes a computer system running a computer program developed by means of machine learning to analyse the digital image and thereby detect the individual identification pattern.

The foundry production line includes a sand moulding machine, a melt pouring device, a shakeout machine, a finishing apparatus, an inspection station and a computer controlled database system. A pattern plate is provided with a sand mould identification device including a plurality of individually adjustable indicator elements adapted to impress an identification pattern in a sand mould part. Each indicator element has rounded edges and indicates a direction. An automatic image detection system includes an imaging device arranged at the inspection station and being adapted to provide a digital image of an individual identification pattern formed in a cleaned casting. The automatic image detection system includes a computer system running a computer program developed by means of machine learning to analyse the digital image and thereby detect the individual identification pattern.

A method for casting longitudinal cast products including casting longitudinal cast products in a semi-continuous manner using a DC casting apparatus having a mold, wherein the mold has top and bottom openings and partially solidifies molten metal that enters into the mold via the top opening and outputs the cast product via the bottom opening, recording a thermal image of the cast product output via the bottom opening, determining at least three non-overlapping temperature ranges comprising a first, second and third, determining a peak temperature in the thermal image; comparing the peak temperature with the at least three temperature ranges; and performing operations depending on where the peak temperature falls within the at least three temperature ranges.

A method for casting longitudinal cast products including casting longitudinal cast products in a semi-continuous manner using a DC casting apparatus having a mold, wherein the mold has top and bottom openings and partially solidifies molten metal that enters into the mold via the top opening and outputs the cast product via the bottom opening, recording a thermal image of the cast product output via the bottom opening, determining at least three non-overlapping temperature ranges comprising a first, second and third, determining a peak temperature in the thermal image; comparing the peak temperature with the at least three temperature ranges; and performing operations depending on where the peak temperature falls within the at least three temperature ranges.

A casting mold includes a cavity portion, a gas flow path, and a shut-off valve capable of blocking the gas flow path. An inspection method for the casting mold includes: a step of, when the casting mold is cold, supplying air having a predetermined pressure into the gas flow path while the shut-off valve is closed, and thereafter stopping supply of the air; a step of acquiring a cold time pressure reduction rate of the air in the gas flow path after the supply of the air is stopped; and a step of determining whether the cold time sealing performance of the shut-off valve is good, based on the cold time pressure reduction rate.

A mold shake-out system to suppress the effects of an excessive or insufficient water sprinkling amount in mold shake-out that separates a mold, into which castings have been poured, into castings and molding sand, the mold shake-out system including: a shake-out device that separates the castings and a mold into the castings and the molding sand; a water sprinkling portion that sprinkles water in the shake-out device; and a control device that controls the water sprinkling amount in the water sprinkling portion; the control device adjusting the water sprinkling amount on the basis of molding/pouring data including molding data regarding the mold into which castings have been poured and which is loaded into the shake-out device, pouring data regarding molten metal that forms the castings, and time data from when the molten metal is poured into the mold until when the mold is loaded into the shake-out device.

A mold shake-out system to suppress the effects of an excessive or insufficient water sprinkling amount in mold shake-out that separates a mold, into which castings have been poured, into castings and molding sand, the mold shake-out system including: a shake-out device that separates the castings and a mold into the castings and the molding sand; a water sprinkling portion that sprinkles water in the shake-out device; and a control device that controls the water sprinkling amount in the water sprinkling portion; the control device adjusting the water sprinkling amount on the basis of molding/pouring data including molding data regarding the mold into which castings have been poured and which is loaded into the shake-out device, pouring data regarding molten metal that forms the castings, and time data from when the molten metal is poured into the mold until when the mold is loaded into the shake-out device.

A system and method for predicting porosity defects due to solidification in a process of casting a metal object by calculating a fraction liquid distribution field for a solution domain defined based on a 3D computer model of the metal object and defining a second order, graph-like sub-grid of interconnected feeding units separated by interface areas by finding minima in the fraction liquid distribution field. A change in porosity volume is determined in each of the feeding units by calculating the total volume of metal inflow and outflow between a feeding unit and its adjacent feeding units and calculating metal shrinkage in the feeding units.

The present invention relates to a system for casting a component by an adjustable molding box. A generating unit serves for generating a component model of the component to be molded, a transmitting unit serves for transmitting the component model via a data network to a determining unit, and the determining unit serves for determining a casting mold model based on the component model. The determining unit is configured such that adjustment data for adjusting the adjustable molding box based on the casting mold model are generatable. A control unit is coupled to the determining unit such that the adjustment data are providable to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured such that the control unit adjusts the molding box, based on the adjustment data, with a casting mold, which is indicative for a negative profile of the component, and the component is castable by the adjusted molding box.