SEMI-SOLID CASTING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A die casting system includes a vessel (12) defining a reservoir (30) with a controlled heater (22) and an agitator (14) for maintaining the bath (16) of semi-solid metal (34) in a homogenous isothermal state, a transfer system (107) capable of transferring a known quantity (122) of metal in its semi- solid state to a mold cavity in a die casting machine, the transfer system (107) including a heated suction tube (108), a vacuum source for vacuum ladling semi-solid metal (34) from the bath (16) to a die, and a plunger tip (132) providing a path for free air flow to allow evacuation of the suction tube (108) during casting and a metal replacement system for replacing the known quantity (122) of transferred metal with a similar amount (126) of liquid metal (32) so that a stable homogenous isothermal bath (16) of semi- solid metal (34) is controllably maintained to be available for die casting operations.