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.