The present invention relates to a steel for mold, containing: 0.28 mass %≤C≤0.65 mass %, 0.01 mass %≤Si≤0.30 mass %, 1.5 mass %≤Mn≤3.0 mass %, 0.5 mass %≤Cr≤1.4 mass %, 1.9 mass %≤Mo+W/2≤4.0 mass %, 0.2 mass %≤V≤1.0 mass %, and 0.01≤N≤0.10 mass %, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, in which, in a state after quenching and tempering, the steel has: a (Mo, W) carbide having a diameter of 0.2 μm or less being in an amount of 1.2 mass % or more, a ratio (mass ratio) of the amount of the (Mo, W) carbide to an amount of a Cr carbide being 11 or more, and a hardness change of 15 HRC or less.

An aluminum casting method is for pouring an aluminum molten metal (12) pumped up by an electromagnetic pump (20) into a die (50). A thickness of a powder demolding agent applied to the die (50) is set to be thinner than that of a demolding agent for a gravity die casting. A temperature of the die immediately before the molten metal is poured is controlled so as to fall within a range that is between 110° C. to 250° C. A temperature of the molten metal when poured is controlled to be a value obtained by adding 20° C. to 55° C. to a liquidus-line temperature of the aluminum.

An aluminum casting method is for pouring an aluminum molten metal (12) pumped up by an electromagnetic pump (20) into a die (50). A thickness of a powder demolding agent applied to the die (50) is set to be thinner than that of a demolding agent for a gravity die casting. A temperature of the die immediately before the molten metal is poured is controlled so as to fall within a range that is between 110° C. to 250° C. A temperature of the molten metal when poured is controlled to be a value obtained by adding 20° C. to 55° C. to a liquidus-line temperature of the aluminum.

A directional solidification casting assembly includes a directional solidification mold having an interior chamber with a shape of an object to be cast using directional solidification of molten metal in a growth direction of the mold and a feed line conduit. The conduit is fluidly coupled with a container source of the molten metal and is coupled with the mold at a gating. The feed line conduit conveys the molten metal into the mold through the gating for directional solidification of the object to be cast in the mold. At least a downstream portion of the feed line conduit that is between the intermediate location of the feed line conduit and the second open end of the feed line conduit is located below the gating along the growth direction of the mold.

A casting mold includes: an upper mold; a lower mold; a horizontal mold; and a core. The core includes a main body part, and a baseboard part that continues to the main body part. The lower mold includes an accommodation part that accommodates the baseboard part. The casting mold further includes an urging member that urges the baseboard part toward an inner face of the accommodation part.

An apparatus for the die casting in the semisolid state of objects made of brass, bronze, alloys of aluminum, magnesium and light alloys and the like, includes an upper die part adapted to be mated with a lower die part, the mating between the upper die part and the lower die part forming a casting cavity, a furnace being arranged below the lower die part and being provided with a duct for feeding liquid metal which connects to the casting cavity. The upper die part is provided with a cavity in which a forging piston can move freely, the piston accommodating internally a flow control plunger, and having, between the upper die part and the lower die part, circumferentially around the part to be cast, a vacuum channel connected to the casting cavity by at least one venting channel.

A method is provided for casting a component. Accordingly, data indicative of at least one location of a unitary core-shell mold which is susceptible to a stress concentration is received. An additive manufacturing process is employed to form the unitary core-shell mold defining a casting cavity. The unitary core-shell mold includes a shell wall defining an outer component shape and a core wall positioned inward of the shell wall. The core wall defines an inner component shape. The core wall and/or the shell wall defines at least one reinforcement recess adjacent to the at least one location which is susceptible to the stress concentration. Following the forming of the unitary core-shell mold, at least one support member is positioned within the reinforcement recess in contact with the at least one location. With the support member in place, the component is cast within the casting cavity.

A method is provided for casting a component. Accordingly, data indicative of at least one location of a unitary core-shell mold which is susceptible to a stress concentration is received. An additive manufacturing process is employed to form the unitary core-shell mold defining a casting cavity. The unitary core-shell mold includes a shell wall defining an outer component shape and a core wall positioned inward of the shell wall. The core wall defines an inner component shape. The core wall and/or the shell wall defines at least one reinforcement recess adjacent to the at least one location which is susceptible to the stress concentration. Following the forming of the unitary core-shell mold, at least one support member is positioned within the reinforcement recess in contact with the at least one location. With the support member in place, the component is cast within the casting cavity.

A sludge digester including a vessel and floating cover. The vessel includes a sidewall and an interior volume configured to receive and contain sludge. According to one embodiment, the cover comprises a frame structure that is constructed and arranged to form a skirt member formed at a periphery of the cover and extending downwardly into the vessel, and a continuous ballast ring attached to a lower portion of the skirt member and configured to form a trough member with an interior surface of the skirt member. The sludge digester may also include a guide system coupled to the sidewall and the skirt member and configured to allow vertical displacement of the cover with change in volume of at least one of a gas and a sludge contained in the vessel beneath the cover.

A molding apparatus for obtaining an annular molded article has a fixed die D1 and a movable die D2 capable of forming an annular cavity C. A first block B1 and a second block B2 are formed inside the cavity C in the fixed and movable dies D1 and D2. The blocks form a flow channel R communicating with the cavity C. Thus, gas generated in the cavity C and a molten metal can flow in the flow channel R. A discharge hole B2b is formed in the second block B2 to discharge the gas flowing in the flow channel R to the outside. A forming surface of the flow channel R, in the first and second blocks B1 and B2, is formed in an outer circumferential shape following an inner circumferential shape of the cavity C.