A casting device having a casting mold and a core for producing a helical casting is described. The may have an expendable core that can be dissolved after the casting process. Advantageous effects of the device and process can be achieved by virtue of the fact that the female mold for accommodating the helical casting during the casting process is formed completely within the outer contour of the core, the female mold being delimited by the core and, at the peripheral boundary surfaces of the female mold, by the casting mold.

Provided are a method for preparing a microfluidic device, a microfluidic device and a microfluidic system. The method includes: providing a mold having a groove; injecting a liquid metal into the groove of the mold, and solidifying the liquid metal to obtain a solid metal; separating the solid metal from the mold; providing the solid metal with an electrode; providing a cladding layer on a surface of the solid metal provided with the electrode, such that the solid metal is wrapped by the cladding layer, and at least a part of the electrode extends outside the cladding layer, so as to obtain a preform; and fixing the preform in a substrate, melting the solid metal and extending at least a part of the electrode outside the substrate, to obtain the microfluidic device.

An investment casting model for the creation of a mold for investment casting of a plurality of objects, the investment casting model being realized in solidifiable resin, and includes: a base defining a Z axis; a plurality of wire-like elements all extending from the base, the wire-like elements intersecting each other to form a plurality of simple closed curves, which form a net around the Z axis. At least two of the simple closed curves of the plurality are identical to each other and the net includes: at least a first and a second sets of simple closed curves, each set forming a net sub-structure around the Z axis, the second set being adjacent to the first set along the Z axis; a plurality of object models; and a plurality of connecting branches joining the plurality of object models to the wire-like elements forming the net.

An investment casting model for the creation of a mold for investment casting of a plurality of objects, the investment casting model being realized in solidifiable resin, and includes: a base defining a Z axis; a plurality of wire-like elements all extending from the base, the wire-like elements intersecting each other to form a plurality of simple closed curves, which form a net around the Z axis. At least two of the simple closed curves of the plurality are identical to each other and the net includes: at least a first and a second sets of simple closed curves, each set forming a net sub-structure around the Z axis, the second set being adjacent to the first set along the Z axis; a plurality of object models; and a plurality of connecting branches joining the plurality of object models to the wire-like elements forming the net.

A process for producing a coupler knuckle and an improved coupler knuckle design are provided. The process produces a coupler knuckle by constructing a mold having the shape of the coupler knuckle. The mold is coated with a material that is resistant to melting at the molten melt temperatures of the molten metal used to form the knuckle. With the mold coated, the cavities in the mold interior are filled by placing an inert material therein. The molten metal used for forming the knuckle contacts the mold and consumes it, while the coating serves to provide a shape for the knuckle.

A process for producing a coupler knuckle and an improved coupler knuckle design are provided. The process produces a coupler knuckle by constructing a mold having the shape of the coupler knuckle. The mold is coated with a material that is resistant to melting at the molten melt temperatures of the molten metal used to form the knuckle. With the mold coated, the cavities in the mold interior are filled by placing an inert material therein. The molten metal used for forming the knuckle contacts the mold and consumes it, while the coating serves to provide a shape for the knuckle.

An improved method of production of a coupler knuckle, a core assembly for production of a coupler knuckle, and coupler knuckle having an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission. The knuckle interior has a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section thereof.

The invention relates to the making, on a support plate (34), of an annular space (76) in a ceramic paste covering this plate, in order, by successive deposits and firing of layers of said ceramic paste, to create a base of a ceramic shell (40) for the moulding of parts, the base having said annular space (76). For this purpose, between two deposits of said ceramic paste, and on the plate, said deformable annular element (82) will be deformed in order to break the ceramic layer.

There is provided a method of producing a casing configured such that adjacent surfaces of the casing are maintained to be perpendicular to each other. A method of producing a casing includes: a first part forming step of forming a first part by pouring molten metal into a cavity formed inside a first die including a first die portion and a second die portion, the cavity corresponding to the first part, the first part including two plate portions connected to each other such that an angle between main surfaces of the two plate portions of the first part becomes 90, the two main surfaces of the two plate portions of the first part being formed by only one of the first die portion and the second die portion; and a second part forming step of forming a second part by pouring the molten metal into a cavity formed inside a second die including a third die portion and a fourth die portion, the cavity corresponding to the second part, the second part including two plate portions connected to each other such that an angle between main surfaces of the two plate portions of the second part becomes 90, the two main surfaces of the two plate portions of the second part being formed by only one of the third die portion and the fourth die portion.

A permanent mold has a base made of metal. The base has a plurality of first mold portions, which are mutually spaced along a longitudinal axis and which are designed to shape a bearing tunnel of a crankcase. Second mold portions are arranged on the first mold portions and consist of a mold material.