Abstract: In the disclosed embodiments, vacuum casting of metal ingots is effected by melting metal in a hearth, directing molten metal from the hearth through a hearth outlet to one of a series of mold segments positioned on the periphery of a rotatable drum, and directing an energy beam from an electron gun or plasma gun toward the surface of the molten metal being poured into the mold segment to control solidification of the ingot. After the mold segment has been filled, the drum is indexed to position an adjacent mold segment beneath the hearth outlet. The energy beam is directed toward the surface of the completed ingot in the adjacent segment as well as toward the mold segment being filled to form a smooth surface on the solidified ingot.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of a container for continuous supply of wire described in the specification, a coil of wire is supported between two side members joined at their outer peripheries. One of the side members has a continuously circular opening formed by a bar with a central circular section and axially spaced ends extending in opposite directions to the periphery of the side member. Wire from the inner surface of a coil of wire held in the container is supplied through the circular opening and the end of the wire from the outside of the coil is disposed above one end of the bar and below the other end of the bar so that it can be connected to another coil of wire and wire can be supplied continuously from successive containers.