A method includes: replacing a first casting system component by a second casting component; sensing a position of the second casting component relative to at least one of a reference position and a third casting component; determining an adjustment amount and/or direction of the second casting system component; and providing the adjustment amount and/or direction to an operator for adjustment of the second casting system component and/or commanding that the second casting system component be adjusted by the adjustment amount and/or direction.

To achieve a substantially uniform microstructure across a continuously cast thin metal strip, it is beneficial to cool a width of the strip to a substantially constant temperature before further cooling the strip to reach any desired phase transformation temperature. Accordingly, methods of continuously casting a thin metal strip may include moving the thin strip to a cooling section, the cooling section having a plurality of coolant discharge ports configured to discharge a flow of coolant along the thin strip; initially sensing the temperature of the thin strip to determine a temperature distribution across the width of the thin strip, and producing a sensor signal corresponding to a sensed temperature at each of the first plurality of locations; and individually controlling the cooling across a width of the thin strip by way of the plurality coolant discharge ports in each zone of a first row using the determined temperature distribution.

A method for the continuous casting of a metal strand in a continuous casting installation, in which, in a casting machine, the metal formed into a slab, with a still molten core, is brought out vertically from a mold, wherein, downstream of the mold in the conveying direction, the slab is made to move along a casting bow, through a number of casting bow segments, and is deflected into the horizontal, wherein each casting bow segment has a number of segment rollers, which are designed for coming into contact with the surface of the slab. In the region before the end of the casting machine, a number of segment rollers are lifted off from the surface of the slab, or are not installed in receptacles provided, and so the contact between the slab and the segment roller is interrupted or there is no contact.

A method and device for producing hot-rolled products in a combined continuous casting and rolling system includes a device for separating and removing. In order to overcome a disruption in production in a part of the system located downstream of the device for separating and removing, the method includes: (a) separating the endlessly produced precursor material into a strand portion with shears; (b) clamping the strand portion; (c) raising the trailing part of the strand portion from the roller table by a raising device, so that the strand portion is drawn away from the shears in the direction of transport; (d) cutting the precursor material into a precursor material portion with the shears; (e) removing the precursor material portion from the roller table, and removing the strand portion until the combined continuous casting and rolling system is ready to operate again.

A method and device for producing hot-rolled products in a combined continuous casting and rolling system includes a device for separating and removing. In order to overcome a disruption in production in a part of the system located downstream of the device for separating and removing, the method includes: (a) separating the endlessly produced precursor material into a strand portion with shears; (b) clamping the strand portion; (c) raising the trailing part of the strand portion from the roller table by a raising device, so that the strand portion is drawn away from the shears in the direction of transport; (d) cutting the precursor material into a precursor material portion with the shears; (e) removing the precursor material portion from the roller table, and removing the strand portion until the combined continuous casting and rolling system is ready to operate again.

In the context of a method for producing heavy plate (4) from a steel alloy, comprising the continuous casting of a steel melt and primary forming of an obtained casting strand to produce a slab, and then forming or hot rolling the slab from the casting heat in multiple forming steps to produce a desired heavy plate dimension, followed immediately by a heat treatment of the heavy plate (4), effecting a targeted cooling of the obtained heavy plate (4), wherein the heavy plate (4) is cut to a desired individual plate length before or after its heat treatment as seen in the production direction (3), a solution is provided for producing heavy plate that permits the flexible production of heavy plate of variable qualities. This is achieved by carrying out the heat treatment in the temperature range of 150° C.-1100° C. as a combination of a targeted cooling of the obtained heavy plate (4) from the rolling heat to a desired first temperature, followed immediately by a targeted heating of the heavy plate (4) to a desired second temperature and an immediately subsequent cooling of the heavy plate (4) to a desired third temperature.

In production of a reactive metal using a melting furnace for producing metal having a hearth, ingots can be efficiently produced by efficiently cooling the ingots extracted from the mold provided in the melting furnace. In addition, an apparatus structure in which multiple ingots can be produced with high efficiency and high quality from one hearth, is provided. A melting furnace for producing metal is provided, the furnace has a hearth for having molten metal formed by melting raw material, a mold in which the molten metal is poured, an extracting jig which is provided below the mold for extracting ingot cooled and solidified downwardly, a cooling member for cooling the ingot extracted downwardly of the mold, and an outer case for keeping the hearth, the mold, the extracting jig, and the cooling member separated from the air, wherein at least one mold and extracting jig are provided in the outer case, and the cooling member is provided between the outer case and the ingot, or between the multiple ingots.

A modular micro mill for manufacturing steel long product from scrap metal using an induction melting furnace is disclosed. Scrap or pre-refined metal is delivered and melted in the induction melting furnace, the melted steel then being transferred by a preheated tundish to a casting station for producing billets. From the caster the billets are transferred directly to a billet staging station and stored in queue for delivering to main conveyor leading directly to the rolling mill without being cooled to ambient. The bars produced by the rolling mill are then quenched to impart desired metallurgical properties within the finished product. A control system runs the operation of the production line of the modular micro mill, the control system specifically adapting production rates, conveyor speeds, temperatures, etc. of components upstream within the production line based on the specific requirements and/or dimensions of the finished product exiting the production line.

In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.

In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.