An apparatus for continuous or semi-continuous low pressure casting of metal, in particular directly-cooled (DC) casting of extended objects such as a rods, bars or billets of aluminium. The apparatus includes a frame construction with at least one chill or mould having a mould cavity that is provided with an upwardly open inlet and an outlet with cooling means. The inlet of the mould is connected to a distribution chamber receiving liquid metal from a metal store such as a holding furnace via a metal supply channel or launder. A flexible launder section is provided between the launder and the metal distribution chamber whereby the frame construction with the moulds and distribution chamber can be raised and lowered to enable complete filling of metal to the moulds. Subsequently it is possible to control the metal level in each respective mould cavity in relation to the metal level in the launder and thereby controlling the low pressure casting.

A machine for forming metal bars, in particular for producing ingots made of precious metal such as gold, silver, precious alloys, as well as other pure metals or different alloys, in the form of solid metal powder, grits or swarf of various sizes, having an ingot mould and a cover for closing the ingot mould when filled, the ingot mould has a dimension in height such that the cover passes from a first position to a second position when the volume occupied by the mass of metal that fills the ingot mould reduces gradually up to one third of the initial solid volume. In the first position the cover rests on the metal that fills the ingot mold and remains raised with respect to an abutting edge of the ingot mould, in such a manner that the bottom of the cover compresses and thus uniformly compacts the powders, the grits or the swarf so that, during the melting step, in the second position, the cover lowers progressively as the metal melts, until it rests on the abutting edge of the ingot mold, thus hermetically closing the ingot mould.

A system and method for sensing the melt level of an ingot and/or molten material within one or more of a melting hearth, a refining hearth, tundish, and/or a casting mold within a furnace system. One or more laser melt height systems is configured and oriented to measure the melt level of one or more furnace system vessels within a closed furnace chamber, and thereby provide control information for regulating an overall melting, refining, casting, and/or atomization process.

A system and method for sensing the position of an ingot within a segmented mold of a vacuum metallurgical system. An inductive sensory system measures the variations in current between a power source and load of an induction heating coil. The system and method is particularly suitable for determining the position of an ingot within a melting system mold where the mold has a relatively reduced or small cross-sectional area.