A method of forming an engine component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, introducing molten metal into a cavity between a shell and a casting article in the shell. The casting article includes a ceramic portion and a plurality of fibers. The method further includes separately removing the ceramic portion and the fibers from an interior of the component.

A method of forming a component having an internal passage defined therein includes positioning a jacketed core with respect to a mold. The jacketed core includes a hollow structure formed from a first material, an inner core disposed within the hollow structure, and a core channel that extends from at least a first end of the inner core through at least a portion of inner core. The method also includes introducing a component material in a molten state into a cavity of the mold, such that the component material in the molten state at least partially absorbs the first material from the jacketed core within the cavity. The method further includes cooling the component material in the cavity to form the component. The inner core defines the internal passage within the component.

A method of forming a component having an internal passage defined therein includes forming a precursor core having a shape corresponding to a shape of the internal passage, and forming a hollow structure around the precursor core. The method also includes removing the precursor core from within the hollow structure, and disposing an inner core within the hollow structure to form a jacketed core. The method further includes positioning the jacketed core with respect to a mold, and introducing a component material in a molten state into a cavity of the mold, such that the component material in the molten state at least partially absorbs the hollow structure from a portion of the jacketed core within the cavity. Additionally, the method includes cooling the component material in the cavity to form the component. The inner core defines the internal passage within the component.

A method of forming an engine component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, introducing molten metal into a cavity between a shell and a casting article in the shell. The casting article includes a ceramic portion and a plurality of fibers. The method further includes separately removing the ceramic portion and the fibers from an interior of the component.

A method for producing a piston of an internal combustion engine, with a cooling duct, may include producing a piston blank with a cooling duct, closing an inlet and an outlet of the cooling duct by at least one closure element, machine-finishing the piston blank, and removing the at least one closure element.

A surgical retractor for illuminating a surgical field includes an ergonomic handle, a retractor blade coupled with the handle, a quick release mechanism, and an illuminator blade. The retractor blade is adapted to engage and retract tissue, and the quick release mechanism is adapted to couple the handle with the retractor blade. The illuminator blade acts as a waveguide to transmit light by total internal reflection. Light is extracted from the illuminator to illuminate the surgical field. The retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring uncoupling of the illuminator blade from the handle and also without requiring optical uncoupling of the illuminator blade from a light source. The retractor may also be adapted to evacuate smoke from the surgical field.

A casting mold apparatus includes a unitary ceramic core including: an outer skin defining an outer surface; and an internal support structure disposed inside the outer skin, the internal support structure defining a plurality of voids configured to admit fluid to the core.

Described in this document is a process for making heat transfer devices such as cold plates. The cold plates can be made by 3-D printing a polymer substrate, applying thermal spraying deposition of metal over the substrate, dissolving the substrate for removal to form an enclosed flow region through for passage of heat transfer fluid. Molten metal droplets can be sprayed onto the substrate having a surface region comprising a water-soluble thermoplastic to form metal splats on the surface region at a splat temperature and surface properties such that the metal splats penetrate and interlock to form a solid metal coating adhered to the polymer substrate. A dissolvable substrate can facilitate removal by contacting with a solvent to form the enclosed flow region defined by metallic surfaces, and also can enable complex geometries and enhanced heat transfer performance without the need for extensive machining.

Device and method for injection moulding a metal alloy intended for manufacturing at least one part made of an amorphous metal alloy or metallic glass, wherein: an injection mould (2) delimits a cavity that has a receiving face (4) and a frontal moulding face (5) opposite the receiving face, at least one sacrificial shaping insert (7) is placed in said cavity and has a rear face (8), at least one contact zone of which is adjacent to at least one contact zone of said receiving face of the cavity and a front face (9) that is situated opposite said moulding face of the mould and provided with a recessed shape, and an injection piston (I I) is movable in a chamber (12) of the mould and communicates with the moulding impression.

A parent bore cylinder block of an internal combustion, opposed-piston engine includes cooling passages that are formed using a 3-D printed casting core. The casting core can include portions that are ceramic. The parent bore cylinder block can include multiple cylinders, each cylinder with cooling passages and turbulence inducing features in those cooling passages, particularly surrounding the central portions of the cylinders.