Abstract: An integrally-formed metal-casting mold loaded with a solid-metal ingot in an ingot-cup portion thereof is heated in a furnace under vacuum to a temperature sufficient to melt the solid-metal ingot. The ingot-cup portion is operatively coupled to a component-mold portion of the mold via a funnel portion thereof, either directly or through a riser portion operatively coupled to a base of the component-mold portion, which provides for feeding molten metal melted from the ingot to cast a part in the component-mold portion. Molten metal in excess of what is needed to cast the part flows either into the riser portion, or into a fluid conduit that extends above the component-mold portion. The molten metal may be fed to the component-mold portion through a molten-metal filter to reduce flow rate or remove contaminants. The mold may be formed either as an investment mold or directly by additive manufacturing.

Abstract: An aircraft engine incorporates one or more externally-visible illuminators that are illuminated responsive to an activation signal. At least one of a quantity, a location, a pattern, a sequence, a color, or a color pattern of the one or more externally-visible illuminators, a control of at least one color of the one or more externally-visible illuminators, or a control of at least one intensity of the one or more externally-visible illuminators, is uniquely associated with the manufacturer of the aircraft engine, so as to provide for distinguishing the manufacturer of the aircraft engine while the aircraft engine is in operation in an aircraft.