Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing directionally solidified and/or monocrystalline castings including at least one sensor for sensing temperatures in metal or allow melts contained in a mold, including a thermoelement 41 equipped with a heat resistant coating, this thermoelement being introduced into the melt. Subsequently, the position of the interface between liquidus and solidus is determined from the measured temperatures by means of interpolation, and the withdrawal speed of the casting is controlled such that during the withdrawal of the casting, the interface is always located in a desired area of the insulation 10 which slightly above the cooling head 14. For this purpose, it is advantageous that the temperature of the heating for heating up the mold be stored as a parameter in a computer over the distance covered by the mold and/or the respective position of the mold in the vacuum furnace.

Abstract: A device and a method for the control and monitoring of a deflectable electron beam is provided for the working of metal wherein the electron beam is not permitted to go beyond an allowed working area. With this device with the aid of a Teach-In method the limits are entered into a computer. The computer generates an image of the areas allowed for the electron beam in a particular area of a special memory. This memory is so organized that the addresses of the point of the particular areas correspond to the digitized coordinates of the point of impingement of the electron beam. The characterization of the allowed and forbidden target points of the electron beam takes place through placing or deleting respectively the assigned bits in the special memories.