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.

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material to attract dross thereto, thereby extracting dross from the liquid printing material when the probe is withdrawn from the liquid printing material.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.

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 dross abatement system for a printer is disclosed. The dross abatement system includes a print head ejector, a pump in communication with the print head ejector having an inner cavity, a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity, a supply of printing material external to the print head ejector, a heating element configured to heat the printing material in the ejector, and a supply of absorbent material external to the print head ejector. A method of abating dross in a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the printer, advancing an absorbent material into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir, wherein the melt pool may include a metal printing material, absorbing dross from the metal printing material, removing the absorbent material including the dross, and resuming operation of the metal jetting printer.

A dross abatement system for a printer is disclosed. The dross abatement system includes a print head ejector, a pump in communication with the print head ejector having an inner cavity, a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity, a supply of printing material external to the print head ejector, a heating element configured to heat the printing material in the ejector, and a supply of absorbent material external to the print head ejector. A method of abating dross in a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the printer, advancing an absorbent material into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir, wherein the melt pool may include a metal printing material, absorbing dross from the metal printing material, removing the absorbent material including the dross, and resuming operation of the metal jetting printer.

A molten metal purification device for purifying molten metal flowing through a flow body having a flow path formed by a pair of opposed side walls and a bottom wall. The device includes internal and external members provided inside and outside the flow body, respectively. The internal member includes an electrode body provided inside the path made of a conductive member and has a pair of opposed electrodes provided in the path where current flows across the electrodes through the molten metal and a non-conductive filter. The external member is configured as a magnetic field device having an upper surface side magnetized to an N or S pole and disposed below the flow body. Lines of magnetic force coming out from the N pole or entering the S pole intersect with the current to generate Lorentz force for driving the molten metal along a flowing direction in the path.

A molten metal purification device for purifying molten metal flowing through a flow body having a flow path formed by a pair of opposed side walls and a bottom wall. The device includes internal and external members provided inside and outside the flow body, respectively. The internal member includes an electrode body provided inside the path made of a conductive member and has a pair of opposed electrodes provided in the path where current flows across the electrodes through the molten metal and a non-conductive filter. The external member is configured as a magnetic field device having an upper surface side magnetized to an N or S pole and disposed below the flow body. Lines of magnetic force coming out from the N pole or entering the S pole intersect with the current to generate Lorentz force for driving the molten metal along a flowing direction in the path.

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.