A hot metal supply injection method includes generating a negative pressure in a cylindrical container by a negative pressure generation device, and causing molten metal to be sucked into the cylindrical container from a retention furnace, while keeping an opening portion of the cylindrical container immersed in the molten metal, arranging the opening portion of the cylindrical container in a gate of a cavity while holding the negative pressure by closing up the opening portion of the cylindrical container after moving an inner plunger tip to a tip side of the cylindrical container, and moving the inner plunger tip to a rear end side of the cylindrical container, then moving an outer plunger tip, together with the inner plunger tip, to the tip side of the cylindrical container, and filling the interior of the cavity with the molten metal through injection via the gate.

A vacuum sensor system includes a vacuum pump, vacuum tank, solenoid valve, filters, vacuum block, sensors, and a central processing unit (CPU). The vacuum sensor system monitors the performance of a vacuum system connected to a high pressure die casting machine to ensure that the components cast in the mold or die will have a greater yield of acceptable parts. More specifically, the vacuum sensor system uses sensors to monitor and analyze the vacuum pressure at multiple locations to determine which components are clogging and causing a loss of vacuum pressure in the system. When the CPU detects an anomaly in the pressure, the CPU provides notification in one or more of the following ways: sending a command to shut down the die casting machine; visual notification on the screen of the CPU; an audible warning signal; a visual notification on a semaphore installed on the machine; and/or an electronic notification to one or more users via email, text, or other form of telecommunication.

A vacuum sensor system includes a vacuum pump, vacuum tank, solenoid valve, filters, vacuum block, sensors, and a central processing unit (CPU). The vacuum sensor system monitors the performance of a vacuum system connected to a high pressure die casting machine to ensure that the components cast in the mold or die will have a greater yield of acceptable parts. More specifically, the vacuum sensor system uses sensors to monitor and analyze the vacuum pressure at multiple locations to determine which components are clogging and causing a loss of vacuum pressure in the system. When the CPU detects an anomaly in the pressure, the CPU provides notification in one or more of the following ways: sending a command to shut down the die casting machine; visual notification on the screen of the CPU; an audible warning signal; a visual notification on a semaphore installed on the machine; and/or an electronic notification to one or more users via email, text, or other form of telecommunication.

The casting of metals or salt and products made by casting metals or salts are described. For example, a method for casting metals or salts includes evacuating a mold that is pressurized with an inert gas and coupled to a pressurized source of molten metal or salt, wherein the pressurization of the source is sufficiently high to drive the molten metal or salt into the mold in response to the evacuation.

Provided are a die casting method and a die casting apparatus for preventing molten metal from being unexpectedly supplied into a sleeve under decompression. Molten metal supply control for pumping up molten metal with an electromagnetic pump and supplying the molten metal into a sleeve in a state of decompressing a cavity of a die and the inside of the sleeve attached to the die, including: moving the surface of the molten metal, with the electromagnetic pump, from a standard position to the side opposite to a supply direction of the molten metal; decompressing the cavity and the inside of the sleeve; and weakening force of the electromagnetic pump, which pumps down the molten metal to the side opposite to the supply direction to supply the molten metal into the sleeve.

A decompression path conductance factor calculation device 110 obtains a cavity pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of a cavity portion 30 from an exhaust speed of a decompression device 70, a cavity conductance factor, an overflow conductance factor, a decompression path conductance factor, and respective volumes of inside spaces of a cavity portion 30, an overflow portion 50, and a decompression path 60, obtains a decompression path pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of the decompression path 60 from the exhaust speed of the decompression device 70, the volume of the inside space of the decompression path 60, and the decompression path conductance factor, and obtains the decompression path conductance factor such that a difference between respective approximate curves representing the obtained cavity pressure change characteristic and the obtained decompression path pressure change characteristic becomes a threshold value or less.

A decompression path conductance factor calculation device 110 obtains a cavity pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of a cavity portion 30 from an exhaust speed of a decompression device 70, a cavity conductance factor, an overflow conductance factor, a decompression path conductance factor, and respective volumes of inside spaces of a cavity portion 30, an overflow portion 50, and a decompression path 60, obtains a decompression path pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of the decompression path 60 from the exhaust speed of the decompression device 70, the volume of the inside space of the decompression path 60, and the decompression path conductance factor, and obtains the decompression path conductance factor such that a difference between respective approximate curves representing the obtained cavity pressure change characteristic and the obtained decompression path pressure change characteristic becomes a threshold value or less.

A decompression path conductance factor calculation device 110 obtains a cavity pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of a cavity portion 30 from an exhaust speed of a decompression device 70, a cavity conductance factor, an overflow conductance factor, a decompression path conductance factor, and respective volumes of inside spaces of a cavity portion 30, an overflow portion 50, and a decompression path 60, obtains a decompression path pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of the decompression path 60 from the exhaust speed of the decompression device 70, the volume of the inside space of the decompression path 60, and the decompression path conductance factor, and obtains the decompression path conductance factor such that a difference between respective approximate curves representing the obtained cavity pressure change characteristic and the obtained decompression path pressure change characteristic becomes a threshold value or less.

A decompression path conductance factor calculation device 110 obtains a cavity pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of a cavity portion 30 from an exhaust speed of a decompression device 70, a cavity conductance factor, an overflow conductance factor, a decompression path conductance factor, and respective volumes of inside spaces of a cavity portion 30, an overflow portion 50, and a decompression path 60, obtains a decompression path pressure change characteristic representing a pressure change characteristic of the decompression path 60 from the exhaust speed of the decompression device 70, the volume of the inside space of the decompression path 60, and the decompression path conductance factor, and obtains the decompression path conductance factor such that a difference between respective approximate curves representing the obtained cavity pressure change characteristic and the obtained decompression path pressure change characteristic becomes a threshold value or less.

A die assembly for a vacuum assisted die casting apparatus includes: a cover die half supporting a cover die, the cover die having a first chill vent surface; a moveable ejector die half supporting an ejector die, the ejector die half being configured to be moved along a first axis; and a moveable slide die supported by the ejector die. The slide die is configured to be moved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the slide die having a second chill vent surface.