Abstract: A method of controlling relative movement between an ingot and a mold consists of monitoring the level of the metal pool in the mold by measuring the voltage between the ingot and a mold section disposed above the metal pool, in contact with the bath of molten slag and insulated electrically from the ingot and from the ingot-forming mold section; comparing an instantaneous value of said voltage with a predetermined value and varying the relative speed of the ingot and the mold depending on a signal proportional to the difference between the instantaneous and the predetermined values of said voltage so that the predetermined level of the metal pool is restored.

Abstract: In melting down at least one consumable electrode in an electroslag remelting furnace, a gas is blown into the molten slag in such a manner that the gas flows in a jet towards the consumable electrode portion immersed into the slag to create a slag flow around said portion and thereby accelerate the melting-down of the electrode. The method efficiently eliminates an unbalance in the melting-down rates of two or more electrodes by blowing in the gas at different or controlled flow rates towards every electrode.

Abstract: Premelted slag and metal of a specified composition are poured into a recacle. Thereafter, electroslag remelting of consumable electrodes is carried out in a slag pool formed in the receptacle. As the poured-in metal and remelted metal solidify, a non-split workpiece is being formed of two parts, of which one part is formed of the poured-in metal and the other one of the consumable electrode being melted down. To produce hollow billets with bottom parts according to the method, described above, the molten metal is taken in an amount determined by the mass of the bottom part. The molten slag and molten metal are poured into a working space of an apparatus for producing cast hollow billets, which working space is defined by a stationary bottom plate, the mould walls and by a mandrel. This very working space is also used for effecting electroslag remelting of consumable electrodes to form the remainder part of the hollow billet.