A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

The invention provides a growth method for preparing high-yield crystals, belongs to the technical field of single crystal growth. Auxiliary crucibles are arranged on a crucible according to different crystal types and according to the crystal orientation of crystal growth in the main crucible, the relationship between the crystal growth direction and twin crystal orientation. By controlling the angle between the auxiliary crucibles and the main crucible, the relative position between the auxiliary crucibles each other, the auxiliary crucibles realize correction on the crystal orientation of twins generated in the main crucible crystal growth process. The growth method for preparing the high-yield crystals provided by the invention has the following advantages; the crystal orientation change caused by twins is corrected through auxiliary crucibles additionally arranged on the main crucible, and the overall yield is improved for the growth process of the dislocation crystal with large probability; the crucible position can be customized according to the influence of twins on the crystal growth direction, suitable for various crystal preparation processes, improving the yield obviously, reducing the crystal processing difficulty, and improving the material utilization rate.

The invention provides a growth method for preparing high-yield crystals, belongs to the technical field of single crystal growth. Auxiliary crucibles are arranged on a crucible according to different crystal types and according to the crystal orientation of crystal growth in the main crucible, the relationship between the crystal growth direction and twin crystal orientation. By controlling the angle between the auxiliary crucibles and the main crucible, the relative position between the auxiliary crucibles each other, the auxiliary crucibles realize correction on the crystal orientation of twins generated in the main crucible crystal growth process. The growth method for preparing the high-yield crystals provided by the invention has the following advantages; the crystal orientation change caused by twins is corrected through auxiliary crucibles additionally arranged on the main crucible, and the overall yield is improved for the growth process of the dislocation crystal with large probability; the crucible position can be customized according to the influence of twins on the crystal growth direction, suitable for various crystal preparation processes, improving the yield obviously, reducing the crystal processing difficulty, and improving the material utilization rate.

A method and apparatus for measuring a melt back of a seed in a boule are provided. The method includes lifting a boule once it has been produced using an actuating device onto a support table to automatically manipulate the boule from a furnace to the support table. The melt back of the seed is then automatically measured using a vision system that is installed on an imaging device disposed below the boule.

A method and apparatus for measuring a melt back of a seed in a boule are provided. The method includes lifting a boule once it has been produced using an actuating device onto a support table to automatically manipulate the boule from a furnace to the support table. The melt back of the seed is then automatically measured using a vision system that is installed on an imaging device disposed below the boule.

A single-crystal turbine blade and a method of making such single-crystal turbine blade are disclosed. During manufacturing, a secondary crystallographic orientation of the material of the single-crystal turbine blade is controlled based on a parameter of a root fillet between an airfoil of the single-crystal turbine blade and a platform of the single-crystal turbine blade. The parameter can be a location of peak stress in the root fillet expected during use of the turbine blade.

There is provided a method for manufacturing a turbine component which enables obtaining a single crystal structure more easily and manufacturing a good turbine component. In the seed crystal placing step, the seed crystal is placed on the surface of the base in a manner that a first direction along <001> of the seed crystal has an angle within 15 degrees in absolute value in relation to a laminating direction. In the shaped layer forming step, scanning is performed in a manner that the scan direction has an angle within 20 degrees in absolute value in relation to a second direction being <001> orthogonal to the first direction of the seed crystal.

A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.