Abstract: A casting die includes a first ingate defining a first annular chamber and a second ingate defining a second annular chamber and spaced from the first ingate. The die includes a first end ring gate concentric with the first ingate and defining a first end ring chamber in fluid communication with the first annular chamber, and a second end ring gate concentric with the second ingate and defining a second end ring chamber in fluid communication with the second annular chamber. The die includes runners interconnecting the first and second end ring gates. Each of the runners defines a conductor bar channel in fluid communication with the first and second end ring chambers. The die includes an overflow gate disposed between the first and second ingates, wherein the overflow gate defines an annular overflow chamber in fluid communication with the conductor.

Abstract: A busbar for high conductivity distribution of electrical power within a power module of an electric vehicle (EV). The busbar may include a plurality of multilayer composites having copper-graphene laminations. One or more of the multilayer composite may include a first copper-graphene lamination having a plurality of graphene layers disposed between a plurality of copper layers, a second copper-graphene lamination having a plurality of graphene layers disposed between a plurality of copper layers, and a carrier substrate disposed relative to the first and second copper-graphene laminations.

Abstract: A vehicular battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells having a first end and a second end. Each battery cell comprises a first portion extending to a second portion. Each first portion has a conductive first terminal and each second portion has a conductive second terminal. The module further comprises at least one cell holder in which the plurality of battery cells is disposed. The module further comprises first and second current collectors. The first current collector comprises a first metal substrate and a first copper-graphene (Cu-Gr) multilayer composite disposed on the first metal substrate. The first current collector is disposed on the first end of the plurality of battery cells. The second current collector comprises a second metal substrate and a second Cu-Gr multilayer composite disposed on the second metal substrate. The second current collector is disposed on the second end of the plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing one or more powders each formed of two or more materials. The system includes a housing having an enclosure, a crucible configured to produce a melt of a first material, a droplet device configured to receive the melt of the first material and produce a flow of droplets thereof within the enclosure, a distribution device configured to propel a second material into the droplets to mix therewith, wherein the droplets solidify to form particles of the first material, the second material, and/or a reaction product thereof, a platform within the enclosure configured to intercept the particles, and one or more generators configured to produce electromagnetic waves and/or acoustic waves to form a fluidized bed of the particles on the platform. The platform and/or the one or more generators are configured to produce, from the fluidized bed, a powder including the particles.

Abstract: A design for repair casting having a repairable ultra-large single-piece casting and a replacement part. The ultra-large single-piece casting includes a main body portion, at least one predefined replaceable portion integrally cast with the main body portion, and a cut-guide delineating the predefined replaceable portion from the main body portion. The cut-guide includes a continuous channel defined on an exterior surface of the single-piece casting. The cut-guide further includes a rib extending from a channel wall on the main body portion. A damaged replaceable portion is excisable from the main-body portion by cutting through the single-piece casting along the cut-guide. The excised damaged replaceable portion may be replaced with the replacement part, which has substantially the same geometry, dimensions, and mechanical properties as an undamaged replaceable portion. The replacement part may be joined to the main body portion by mechanical means or by welding.

Abstract: A method of repairing an ultra-large single-piece cast component of a vehicle body. The method includes the steps of locating a damaged portion of the cast component, determining an extent of the damaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, defining a cut-line sectioning off the damaged portion from an undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, cutting along the cut-line to excise the damaged portion from the undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, and joining a replacement piece to the undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component. The replacement piece is fabricated based on the original manufacturer's geometry and dimensional data of the excised damaged portion. The undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component remains on the vehicle body during the repair.

Abstract: An induction rotor assembly having conductive bars is provided. The assembly comprises a lamination stack comprising a body having a first end and second ends to define a longitudinal axis. The body has an outer circumferential portion extending from the first end to the second end. The outer portion has a plurality of walls defining open slots formed from the first end through the second end. The assembly further comprises a first ring disposed on the first end and a second ring disposed on the second end. The assembly further comprises a plurality of conductive bars extending between the first and second rings. Each conductive bar is disposed in one of the slots such that the respective conductive bar is in contact with the lamination stack and connects the first and second rings. Each bar comprises an inner portion and a conductive outer skin disposed about the inner portion.

Abstract: A method of making an electric conductor having a conductive skin layer. The method comprises providing a conductive member having a first width and a conductive layer disposed thereon for conductivity. The conductive layer has a second width to define a width ratio of the first width to the second width of 4:1 to 200:1. The conductive layer has greater conductivity than the conductive member. The method comprises disposing the conductive layer about the conductive member to define a conductive layered member and pressing the conductive layered member for mechanical contact to define a pressed layered member. The method comprises thermally treating the pressed layered member for diffusion between the conductive layer and the conductive member defining a diffused layered member. The method further comprises cooling the diffused layered member for diffusion bonding free of an intermetallic phase between the conductive layer and the conductive member.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator and having an air gap between the rotor and the stator, wherein at least one of the stator and the rotor include a plurality of windings formed from ultra-conducting copper foil.

Abstract: A method of making a conductor includes folding/stacking/rolling an ultra-conducting copper foil into a multiple layer folded/stacked/rolled ultra-conducting copper foil. Cladding the multiple layer folded/stacked/rolled ultra-conducting coper foil with one of copper and aluminum into a cladded folded/stacked/rolled ultra-conducting copper foil and plastically deforming the cladded folded/stacked/rolled ultra-conducting copper foil into one of a cladded ultra-conducting copper wire, bar, and cable.

Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle are provided. The method comprises providing a negative cast mold having cavities to form the cradle having a length greater than a width to define a longitudinal axis and providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism comprises primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with the cavities. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, moving the mold to a vertical orientation about the longitudinal axis while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities, and moving the cast mold to a horizontal orientation. A second solidification time in the risers is greater than a first solidification time in the mold such that shrinkage of the solidified metallic material occurs in the risers away from the mold.

Abstract: A three-dimensional part as well as a method and system for creating the three-dimensional part. The three-dimensional part including a first portion of a three-dimensional part formed from a first plurality of successively deposited layers, with a cavity defined in the first portion of the three-dimensional part. A magnet is inserted in the cavity and a cover disposed on the magnet in the cavity. In addition, a second portion of the three-dimensional part is formed form a second plurality of successively deposited layers deposited on the first portion of the three-dimensional part and the cover.

Abstract: An automobile vehicle crankshaft including a crankshaft casting of a nodular iron. The crankshaft casting includes multiple main journals coaxially aligned on a common crankshaft casting axis. Multiple crankpin journals are fixedly connected to the main journals by individual webs. Multiple lightening holes have individual ones of the multiple lightening holes integrally formed within individual ones of the crankpin journals during casting. A bubble space is located proximate to a mid-portion of selected ones of the multiple lightening holes of the crankpin journals. The bubble space locally increases a passage size of the selected ones of the multiple lightening holes and reduces a mass of the individual ones of the crankpin journals.

Abstract: A fluidized bed mixer for combining a first powder with a second powder for manufacturing a magnet and a method of using the fluidized bed mixer for making the magnet. The first powder material is an alloy powder containing neodymium (Nd), iron (Fe), and boron (B), and the second powder material is an alloy powder or elemental metal powder containing one or more of dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb). The fluidized bed mixer includes a fluidized bed portion in an upper portion of a mixing chamber, a cascading baffle system beneath the fluidized bed portion, and combined powder collection area beneath the cascading baffle system. The fluidized bed mixer is configured to homogenously combine a first powder material with a second powder material in such a way that particles of the second powder material adheres to and covers the outer surfaces of the particles of the first powder material.

Abstract: A three-dimensional part as well as a method and system for creating the three-dimensional part. The three-dimensional part including a first portion of a three-dimensional part formed from a first plurality of successively deposited layers, with a cavity defined in the first portion of the three-dimensional part. A magnet is inserted in the cavity and a cover disposed on the magnet in the cavity. In addition, a second portion of the three-dimensional part is formed form a second plurality of successively deposited layers deposited on the first portion of the three-dimensional part and the cover.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy for high pressure die casting of ultra-large vehicle body structures. The aluminum alloy includes about 4.00 to about 12.00 weight percent silicon (Si); about 0.20 weight percent maximum (Max) copper (Cu); about 0.40 weight percent Max magnesium (Mg); about 0.20 to about 0.60 weight percent iron (Fe); about 1.00 weight percent Max manganese (Mn); about 0.50 weight percent Max zinc (Zn); about 0.02 weight percent Max strontium (Sr); about 0.50 weight percent Max cerium (Ce); about 0.01 weight Max percent boron (B); and a remaining weight percent aluminum (Al). The aluminum alloy provides an as-cast yield strength of greater than 130 Megapascals (MPa), ultimate tensile strength of greater than 260 MPa, and elongation of greater than 6% without the need for heat treatment.

Abstract: A system and method of using a smart insert pin for making a casting for a vehicle, in which the casting includes a boss having internal threads. The system includes a mold and an insert pin insertable into the mold. The mold includes a portion of a mold cavity defining a boss shaped cavity and a bore in communication with the boss shaped cavity. The insert pin includes a first portion having external threads and a second portion extending from the first portion. The second portion of the insert pin is insertable into the bore with the first portion extending into the portion of the mold cavity defining the boss shaped cavity. The mold cavity is fill with a molten metal. The molten metal is cooled into a solidified casting. The insert pin is unfastened from the casting leaving a cast boss with an internal threaded bore.

Abstract: An additive manufactured piston having a crown portion and a skirt portion form of an aluminum-cerium-silicon alloy. The piston includes a least one recess pocket in an unstressed region located at an interface between an inner surface of the crown portion and an outer surface of the skirt portion. The skirt portion includes an outer panel surface defining an external rib adjacent a peripheral end surface, at least one stiffening rib extending from a pin boss to a skirt end, and a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm in a region between the external rib and the at least one stiffening rib. The skirt portion further includes an internal first rib having a width W1 on a thrust side portion and an internal second rib having a width W2 located on an anti-thrust side portion, in which W1 is greater than W2.

Abstract: A method to manufacture a ceramic foam filter includes: sintering a filter body to a temperature greater than a molten metal to be filtered through the body; creating multiple tortuous path channels extending through the filter body individually having a repeated and controlled passage geometry creating a continuously changing diameter and area of a flow path through the multiple tortuous path channels causing localized increases and decreases in molten metal flow rate through the multiple tortuous path channels; and applying a mixture of at least one ceramic powder and at least one binder using additive manufacturing to shape the filter body including the multiple tortuous path channels.

Abstract: A low-pressure sand-casting system includes a sand-casting mold receiving a molten casting material to cast an automobile vehicle cylinder head. A port is created in the automobile vehicle cylinder head. A manifold port metal core assembly includes a metal core. A compressible material coating is applied on the manifold port core metal core.