Molten metal M is raised to the vicinity of a gate 11 of a cavity 9C by increasing the pressure in a holding furnace 5 with gas, and thereafter the cavity 9C is filled with the molten metal M by decreasing the pressure in the cavity 9C by suction and further increasing the pressure in the holding furnace 5. Thereafter, the decompression of the cavity 9C is stopped after a preset filling time, and the compression of the holding furnace 5 is stopped when solidification of the molten metal M is completed. In this way, the suction is minimized, and it becomes possible to employ a simple decompression part 14. A reduction in equipment cost and production cost is thereby achieved, and a reduction in casting cycle time is also achieved.

An apparatus for manufacturing items of light alloy or similar comprises a mould (10) that includes two half-moulds (12, 14), lower and upper, able to be coupled together. The lower half-mould (12) defines a moulding cavity (20) adjacent to a supply duct (16) of liquid metal that passes through it up to an introduction passage (18) of the liquid metal in the moulding cavity (20). The upper half-mould (14) is associated with at least one moveable punch (24) provided with a moulding surface (21) that defines the shape of an item to be moulded together with the moulding cavity (20). Each punch (24) performs the function of a shutter to stop the flow of liquid metal towards the moulding cavity (20). The apparatus includes temperature control means and temperature sensors connected with a control unit (32) that prevents the movement of the moveable punches (24) if the temperature of both half-moulds (12, 14) is not comprised within a predetermined range of values.

An apparatus for manufacturing items of light alloy or similar comprises a mould (10) that includes two half-moulds (12, 14), lower and upper, able to be coupled together. The lower half-mould (12) defines a moulding cavity (20) adjacent to a supply duct (16) of liquid metal that passes through it up to an introduction passage (18) of the liquid metal in the moulding cavity (20). The upper half-mould (14) is associated with at least one moveable punch (24) provided with a moulding surface (21) that defines the shape of an item to be moulded together with the moulding cavity (20). Each punch (24) performs the function of a shutter to stop the flow of liquid metal towards the moulding cavity (20). The apparatus includes temperature control means and temperature sensors connected with a control unit (32) that prevents the movement of the moveable punches (24) if the temperature of both half-moulds (12, 14) is not comprised within a predetermined range of values.

A suction pressure casting method uses a casting device that includes a holding furnace for accumulating molten metal, a metal mold and a core forming a cavity, a molten-metal pressurizing tank that supplies a pressurizing gas, and a suction and exhaust tank for sucking and exhausting the inside of the cavity. A preset decompression pattern of a casting process is compared with a measured pressure pattern of the cavity and the core that is measured during actual casting. A corrected decompression pattern is calculated based on a difference therebetween. The preset decompression pattern at the time of the next casting is then corrected by using the corrected decompression pattern.

A suction pressure casting method uses a casting device that includes a holding furnace for accumulating molten metal, a metal mold and a core forming a cavity, a molten-metal pressurizing tank that supplies a pressurizing gas, and a suction and exhaust tank for sucking and exhausting the inside of the cavity. A preset decompression pattern of a casting process is compared with a measured pressure pattern of the cavity and the core that is measured during actual casting. A corrected decompression pattern is calculated based on a difference therebetween. The preset decompression pattern at the time of the next casting is then corrected by using the corrected decompression pattern.

A system (5) and method (800) for unit cell casting of titanium or titanium-alloys is disclosed herein. The system (5) comprises an external chamber (45), a crucible (10) positioned within the external chamber (45), an induction coil (15) positioned around the crucible, an internal chamber (40) positioned within the external chamber (45), and a mold (30) positioned within the internal chamber (40). The external chamber (45) is evacuated and a pressurized gas is injected into the evacuated external chamber (45) to create a pressurized external chamber (45). An ingot (20) is melted within the crucible utilizing induction heating generated by the induction coil (15). The internal chamber (40) is evacuated to create an evacuated internal chamber (40). The titanium alloy material of the ingot (20) is completely transferred into the mold (30) from the crucible (10) using a pressure differential created between the external chamber (45) and the internal chamber (40).

A system (5) and method (800) for unit cell casting of titanium or titanium-alloys is disclosed herein. The system (5) comprises an external chamber (45), a crucible (10) positioned within the external chamber (45), an induction coil (15) positioned around the crucible, an internal chamber (40) positioned within the external chamber (45), and a mold (30) positioned within the internal chamber (40). The external chamber (45) is evacuated and a pressurized gas is injected into the evacuated external chamber (45) to create a pressurized external chamber (45). An ingot (20) is melted within the crucible utilizing induction heating generated by the induction coil (15). The internal chamber (40) is evacuated to create an evacuated internal chamber (40). The titanium alloy material of the ingot (20) is completely transferred into the mold (30) from the crucible (10) using a pressure differential created between the external chamber (45) and the internal chamber (40).

A system (5) and method (800) for unit cell casting of titanium or titanium-alloys is disclosed herein. The system (5) comprises an external chamber (45), a crucible (10) positioned within the external chamber (45), an induction coil (15) positioned around the crucible, an internal chamber (40) positioned within the external chamber (45), and a mold (30) positioned within the internal chamber (40). The external chamber (45) is evacuated and a pressurized gas is injected into the evacuated external chamber (45) to create a pressurized external chamber (45). An ingot (20) is melted within the crucible utilizing induction heating generated by the induction coil (15). The internal chamber (40) is evacuated to create an evacuated internal chamber (40). The titanium alloy material of the ingot (20) is completely transferred into the mold (30) from the crucible (10) using a pressure differential created between the external chamber (45) and the internal chamber (40).

A system (5) and method (800) for unit cell casting of titanium or titanium-alloys is disclosed herein. The system (5) comprises an external chamber (45), a crucible (10) positioned within the external chamber (45), an induction coil (15) positioned around the crucible, an internal chamber (40) positioned within the external chamber (45), and a mold (30) positioned within the internal chamber (40). The external chamber (45) is evacuated and a pressurized gas is injected into the evacuated external chamber (45) to create a pressurized external chamber (45). An ingot (20) is melted within the crucible utilizing induction heating generated by the induction coil (15). The internal chamber (40) is evacuated to create an evacuated internal chamber (40). The titanium alloy material of the ingot (20) is completely transferred into the mold (30) from the crucible (10) using a pressure differential created between the external chamber (45) and the internal chamber (40).

A casting system includes a first mold, a second mold, the first mold and the second mold being configured to receive molten metal, the first mold and the second mold exerting pressure on the molten metal to form a mechanical component as the molten metal cools, and a sensor that measures the pressure exerted on the molten metal to provide feedback information to regulate the pressure exerted on the molten metal.