A method for producing a component from an aluminum alloy using a semisolid method is provided. The alloy contains less than 1.3% by weight of iron and no more than 0.2% by weight of silicon, and the component has sufficient ductility such that the component can be joined to other components by self-piercing riveting, flow drilling, high-speed tack setting, friction welding and/or weld riveting.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e) for producing a casting (36) formed from an amorphous or partially amorphous metal, which comprises a casting mold (3; 3a; 3b; 3c; 3d; 3e) having at least one filling opening (16; 16a; 16b, 41; 16c; 16d; 16e) for introducing a casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e) forming the casting (36) and a device for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). The melting device expediently has at least one region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e) which is provided for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). Advantageously, an apparatus is created that allows a particularly targeted application of melting energy into the casting material. In an embodiment, the melting device comprises a means for forming at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) in the at least one melting region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e), which in particular comprises at least two electrodes (32; 32a, 38; 32b; 32c) arranged at a distance from one another, between which the at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) can be formed.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e) for producing a casting (36) formed from an amorphous or partially amorphous metal, which comprises a casting mold (3; 3a; 3b; 3c; 3d; 3e) having at least one filling opening (16; 16a; 16b, 41; 16c; 16d; 16e) for introducing a casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e) forming the casting (36) and a device for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). The melting device expediently has at least one region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e) which is provided for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). Advantageously, an apparatus is created that allows a particularly targeted application of melting energy into the casting material. In an embodiment, the melting device comprises a means for forming at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) in the at least one melting region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e), which in particular comprises at least two electrodes (32; 32a, 38; 32b; 32c) arranged at a distance from one another, between which the at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) can be formed.

A system for injecting semisolid metal into a mold, the system including a mold having a mold chamber, at least one press device having a cylinder, an injection chamber, and a thrust piston, a positioning device supporting a blending device having an active portion and a cover, and an actuating device that selectively injects the semisolid metal into the mold.

A system for injecting semisolid metal into a mold, the system including a mold having a mold chamber, at least one press device having a cylinder, an injection chamber, and a thrust piston, a positioning device supporting a blending device having an active portion and a cover, and an actuating device that selectively injects the semisolid metal into the mold.

The invention relates to a press for a casting machine and a casting machine with such a press. The press has a baseplate, an upper frame and a movable clamping platen, with two front columns and two rear columns arranged at the corner zones of the plates and at the corner zones of the upper frame. These columns extend through suitable through openings in the movable clamping platen and are fixed to the baseplate at the stationary upper frame. The press is characterized in that the front columns have a greater distance from one another than the rear columns. Because of this, essentially wider or longer permanent molds or those with side-protruding slides, up to a width corresponding to the increased distance apart of the front columns, may be inserted into the area between the baseplates and the movable clamping platen, and removed again. This means that better use can be made of the pressure and pressing capacity of the press, while the press is similarly or comparably simple, stable and compact in design and as advantageous for production and maintenance as conventional presses with columns arranged in a rectangle.

The invention relates to a press for a casting machine and a casting machine with such a press. The press has a baseplate, an upper frame and a movable clamping platen, with two front columns and two rear columns arranged at the corner zones of the plates and at the corner zones of the upper frame. These columns extend through suitable through openings in the movable clamping platen and are fixed to the baseplate at the stationary upper frame. The press is characterized in that the front columns have a greater distance from one another than the rear columns. Because of this, essentially wider or longer permanent molds or those with side-protruding slides, up to a width corresponding to the increased distance apart of the front columns, may be inserted into the area between the baseplates and the movable clamping platen, and removed again. This means that better use can be made of the pressure and pressing capacity of the press, while the press is similarly or comparably simple, stable and compact in design and as advantageous for production and maintenance as conventional presses with columns arranged in a rectangle.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e) for producing a casting (36) formed from an amorphous or partially amorphous metal, which comprises a casting mold (3; 3a; 3b; 3c; 3d; 3e) having at least one filling opening (16; 16a; 16b, 41; 16c; 16d; 16e) for introducing a casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e) forming the casting (36) and a device for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). The melting device expediently has at least one region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e) which is provided for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). Advantageously, an apparatus is created that allows a particularly targeted application of melting energy into the casting material. In an embodiment, the melting device comprises a means for forming at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) in the at least one melting region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e), which in particular comprises at least two electrodes (32; 32a, 38; 32b; 32c) arranged at a distance from one another, between which the at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) can be formed.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e) for producing a casting (36) formed from an amorphous or partially amorphous metal, which comprises a casting mold (3; 3a; 3b; 3c; 3d; 3e) having at least one filling opening (16; 16a; 16b, 41; 16c; 16d; 16e) for introducing a casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e) forming the casting (36) and a device for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). The melting device expediently has at least one region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e) which is provided for melting the casting material (15; 15a; 15b; 15c; 15d; 15e). Advantageously, an apparatus is created that allows a particularly targeted application of melting energy into the casting material. In an embodiment, the melting device comprises a means for forming at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) in the at least one melting region (13; 13; 13b; 40, 13c; 13d; 13e), which in particular comprises at least two electrodes (32; 32a, 38; 32b; 32c) arranged at a distance from one another, between which the at least one electric arc (30; 30a, 39) can be formed.

A method for producing a component from an aluminum alloy using a semisolid method is provided. The alloy contains less than 1.3% by weight of iron and no more than 0.2% by weight of silicon, and the component has sufficient ductility such that the component can be joined to other components by self-piercing riveting, flow drilling, high-speed tack setting, friction welding and/or weld riveting.