Micro-casting production, e.g. for micro-motors, involves forcing molten metal into micro-mold with the aid of Lorentz forces generated in casting tank by current pulses intersecting magnetic field

摘要

The production of micro-castings with a tank (3) of conductive casting material (4), a mold (6), a magnet giving a flux density B in the tank, an electrode system (17) in the tank and a power unit generating a current i in the casting material so that a Lorentz force F acting on the casting material is produced if i and B intersect at right angles, involves using F to overcome the surface tension of the casting material and force a shot of casting material into the mold by passing current pulse(s) through the electrode system to cut the magnetic field, and then demolding the product (2). An independent claim is included for a casting system as above for this process, in which the Lorentz force F exerts a pressure on the casting material (4) towards the casting opening (8), and the electrode system (17) is connected to a circuit (15) for generating filling current pulse(s) and producing a force F and/or pulses of force parallel to the casting opening to fill the mold (6) with a shot of casting material and compact it.