A system for on-line measuring the thickness of a continuous casting billet and adjusting a rolling reduction amount, is capable of giving an accurate, constant and rapid feedback on the thickness of the billet in the continuous casting process online, avoiding the deviation of the rolling reduction amount of the billet in the continuous casting production process which is triggered by the factors such as the capacity of the continuous casting equipment, the execution deviation of the rolling reduction process, the metal solidification attribute such as non-preset expansion and contraction, so as to maximize the function of the continuous casting rolling reduction and improve the solidification quality of the billet.

A control pin for controlling the flow of molten metal through a down spout in a casting process is provided. The control pin comprises a body having an elongated shape, a lower portion insertable in the down spout, and a terminal end, opposite the lower portion. The body includes a central core, preferably a hollow tube or a rod of alumina or mullite; a heating element disposed around the central core, and an intermediate layer surrounding the central core and encasing the heating element, the intermediate layer being made of a solidified ceramic putty. Finally, an outer shell, preferably made of woven fiber reinforcing fabric in a matrix of ceramic, surrounds the intermediate layer.

A control pin for controlling the flow of molten metal through a down spout in a casting process is provided. The control pin comprises a body having an elongated shape, a lower portion insertable in the down spout, and a terminal end, opposite the lower portion. The body includes a central core, preferably a hollow tube or a rod of alumina or mullite; a heating element disposed around the central core, and an intermediate layer surrounding the central core and encasing the heating element, the intermediate layer being made of a solidified ceramic putty. Finally, an outer shell, preferably made of woven fiber reinforcing fabric in a matrix of ceramic, surrounds the intermediate layer.