Abstract: An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, has: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; and a gas source coupled to a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize the headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through the fill tube into the mold. Extraneous sulfur is prevented from entering the molten metal from the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, comprises: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; a gas source coupled a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize said headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through said fill tube into said mold; and means for gettering sulfur.

Abstract: An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic has: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; and a gas source coupled to a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize said headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through said fill tube into the mold. Added sulfur-gettering particles subsequently filtered or sulfur-gettering material removes sulfur from the melted metallic material.

Abstract: A method includes casting a metallic material (56) in a mold (20) containing a core, the core having a substrate (40, 44) coated with a coating (42). A removing of the metallic material from the mold and decoring leaves a casting having a layer formed by the coating. The coating has a ceramic having a porosity in a zone (50) near the substrate less than a porosity in a zone (52) away from the substrate.

Abstract: A method includes casting a metallic material (56) in a mold (20) containing a core, the core having a substrate (40, 44) coated with a coating (42). A removing of the metallic material from the mold and decoring leaves a casting having a layer formed by the coating. The coating has a ceramic having a porosity in a zone (50) near the substrate less than a porosity in a zone (52) away from the substrate.

Abstract: A casting mold (260) comprises a shell (262) extending from a lower end (264) to an upper end (266) and having: an interior space (280) for casting metal; and an opening (268) for receiving metal to be cast. A plurality of thermocouples (900) are vertically-spaced from each other on the shell.

Abstract: A blade (60; 60-2) comprises an airfoil (61) and an attachment root (63). The blade has a tipward zone (80; 80-2; 80-2, 81) and a rootward zone (82; 82-2, 81; 82). The rootward zone has a single crystal structure. The tipward zone has a single crystal structure. The crystalline orientations of the rootward zone and tipward zone are at least 15° out of registry with each other.

Abstract: A method comprises: providing a spiral metallic workpiece having a cast structure associated with such spiral; and at least partially flattening the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of removing a core of a cast component includes providing a casting that includes a silica based ceramic core in a temperature controlled closed volume; cycling temperature between a first temperature and a second temperature within the temperature controlled closed volume that repeatedly subjects the silica based ceramic core to a beta-to-alpha cristobalite transition that induces microfractures in the silica based ceramic core; and after the cycling temperature, chemically dissolving the silica based ceramic core from the casting.

Abstract: An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, comprises: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; a gas source coupled a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize said headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through said fill tube into said mold; and means for gettering sulfur.

Abstract: A casting mold has a pour cone, a downsprue, and a part-forming cavity having a lower end and an upper end. The downsprue extends from the pour cone toward the part-forming cavity and has: a lower portion having a plurality of ports in communication with the part-forming cavity; and an upper portion telescoping relative to the lower portion and coupling the lower portion to the pour cone.

Abstract: An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, comprises: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; a gas source coupled a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize said headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through said fill tube into said mold; and means for gettering sulfur.

Abstract: An airfoil member (100) comprising has a substrate (120) along at least a portion of an airfoil (102) of the airfoil member. A sheath (122) has a channel (144) receiving a portion (160) of the substrate. A plurality of separate spacers (320; 380; 400) are between the sheath and the substrate and have a plurality of gaps between the spacers.

Abstract: An alloy part is cast in a mold (280) having a part-forming cavity (292, 294, 296). The method comprises pouring a first alloy into the mold. The pouring causes: a surface (550) of the first alloy in the part-forming cavity to raise relative to the part-forming cavity; a branch flow of the poured first alloy to pass upwardly through a first portion (304) of a passageway; and the branch flow to pass downwardly through a second portion (310), of the passageway; solidifying some of the first alloy in the passageway to block the passageway while at least some of the first alloy in the part-forming cavity remains molten. A second alloy is poured into the mold atop the first alloy and solidified.

Abstract: A method casts a plurality of alloy parts in a mold (600; 700) having a plurality of part-forming cavities (601). The method comprises pouring a first alloy into the mold causing: the first alloy to branch into respective flows along respective first flowpaths (676, 684; 708) to the respective cavities; and a surface of the first alloy in the part-forming cavities to equilibrate. The method further comprises pouring a second alloy into the mold causing: the second alloy to branch into respective flows along respective second flowpaths (676, 680; 712) to the respective cavities.

Abstract: A method of removing a core of a cast component includes providing a casting that includes a silica based ceramic core in a temperature controlled closed volume; cycling temperature between a first temperature and a second temperature within the temperature controlled closed volume that repeatedly subjects the silica based ceramic core to a beta-to-alpha cristobalite transition that induces microfractures in the silica based ceramic core; and after the cycling temperature, chemically dissolving the silica based ceramic core from the casting.

Abstract: A method for casting comprising: providing a seed, the seed characterized by: an arcuate form and a crystalline orientation progressively varying along an arc of the form; providing molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material.

Abstract: A blade (60; 60-2) comprises an airfoil (61) and an attachment root (63). The blade has a tipward zone (80; 80-2; 80-2, 81) and a rootward zone (82; 82-2, 81; 82). The rootward zone has a single crystal structure. The tipward zone has a single crystal structure. The crystalline orientations of the rootward zone and tipward zone are at least 15° out of registry with each other.

Abstract: A method comprises: providing a spiral metallic workpiece having a cast structure associated with such spiral; and at least partially flattening the workpiece.

Abstract: A casting mold has a pour cone, a downsprue, and a part-forming cavity having a lower end and an upper end. The downsprue extends from the pour cone toward the part-forming cavity and has: a lower portion having a plurality of ports in communication with the part-forming cavity; and an upper portion telescoping relative to the lower portion and coupling the lower portion to the pour cone.