A die casting machine is provided with a movable platen for holding a movable mold, a stationary platen for holding a stationary mold, and tie bars inserted into insertion holes provided in the movable platen and the stationary platen, the movable platen being arranged so as to be capable of advancing to and retreating from the fixed platen along the tie bars. A hollow section is provided in at least one of the movable platen and the stationary platen.

A vacuum system for a die casting mold, which forms vacuum inside a cavity formed between a fixed mold and a movable mold, includes: a ventilation assembly disposed between the cavity and a vacuum pump and mounted between the fixed mold and the movable mold and configured to decrease a flow rate of molten metal when the molten metal filled in the cavity flows in; and a vacuum pump forming the vacuum inside the ventilation assembly.

A vacuum system for a die casting mold, which forms vacuum inside a cavity formed between a fixed mold and a movable mold, includes: a ventilation assembly disposed between the cavity and a vacuum pump and mounted between the fixed mold and the movable mold and configured to decrease a flow rate of molten metal when the molten metal filled in the cavity flows in; and a vacuum pump forming the vacuum inside the ventilation assembly.

A vacuum die casting method may include: coupling a fixed die and a movable die to each other; closing a molten metal pouring hole formed in a sleeve using an injection plunger operated in the sleeve, which is formed on a lower side of the fixed die or the movable die; performing vacuum decompression in a cavity formed between the fixed die and the movable die using a vacuum decompression device connected to chill vent blocks provided on upper portions of the fixed die and the movable die; supplying oxygen in the cavity using an oxygen supply device connected to the chill vent blocks after completing the step of performing vacuum decompression; and supplying a molten metal to the cavity through the molten metal pouring hole.

A piston of a die-casting apparatus includes: a piston tip having a generally cup-shaped body having an inner front face and an inner cylindrical surface, the inner front face having a plurality of grooves formed therein for conveying cooling fluid; and an inner piston carrier coupled to the piston tip, the carrier comprising an elongate forward portion matingly engaging the piston tip.

Apparatus and methods for creating cast metal objects in space and other environments. Molds are created using additive manufacturing and are injected with a castable metal having a melting point lower than a mold melting point. In some aspects, the additive manufacturing device and the metal casting unit are contained in the same unit.

Provided are a decompression shut-off valve device having high responsiveness and a method for controlling the same. The decompression shut-off valve device 10 includes an on-off valve 30, a detection pin 50, and an interlocking member 60 which operates the on-off valve 30 by displacement of the pressure-receiving section 52, a valve chamber 31, an accommodating chamber 17, and a cylinder 40 which accommodates an enlarged diameter section 37 provided in a rod section 33 of the on-off valve 30. The rod section 33 is slidably held through a second partition wall 18, and a rod end portion 36 of the rod section 33 is connected to the detection pin 50 via the interlocking member 60. The cylinder 40 is partitioned into a small diameter low-pressure chamber 80, and a large diameter high-pressure chamber 70 in which the working fluid having a higher pressure than the low-pressure chamber 80 is accommodated.

A die casting insert for producing die casted metal parts from liquid metal. The die casting insert has an outer casing shaped to be fixed in the die block of the die casting apparatus. The die casting insert also has a stopper with a purge opening that is adapted to evacuate contaminants topping the liquid metal as pressure is applied to the liquid metal. The stopper, fitted to mate with the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve, is constructed to seal the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve except at the purge opening when in a first position; and to permit the flow of the liquid metal into at least one molding cavity when the stopper is in a second position. The die casting insert also has an activation mechanism configured to shift the stopper between the first position and the second position.

A die casting insert for producing die casted metal parts from liquid metal. The die casting insert has an outer casing shaped to be fixed in the die block of the die casting apparatus. The die casting insert also has a stopper with a purge opening that is adapted to evacuate contaminants topping the liquid metal as pressure is applied to the liquid metal. The stopper, fitted to mate with the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve, is constructed to seal the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve except at the purge opening when in a first position; and to permit the flow of the liquid metal into at least one molding cavity when the stopper is in a second position. The die casting insert also has an activation mechanism configured to shift the stopper between the first position and the second position.

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.