Abstract: Systems and methods of making a cast steel alloy crankshaft for an internal combustion engine are provided. The method comprises providing a mold of the crankshaft. The mold has cavities to form the crankshaft. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material at between 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 1600° C. to define a molten metallic material. In addition, the method further comprises feeding the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle of between 30° and 75° in the cavities of the negative sand cast mold. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material at a solidification time of between 5 seconds (sec) and 20 sec in the negative sand cast mold with at least one chill member to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the cast steel alloy crankshaft. Furthermore, the method comprises separating the solidified metallic material from the negative sand cast mold to define the cast steel alloy crankshaft.

Abstract: A high elastic modulus, high ultimate tensile strength, and low alloy gray cast iron for cylinder liners. The gray cast iron includes from 2.60 wt % to 3.30 wt % Carbon (C); from 1.50 wt % to 2.30 wt % Silicon (Si); from 0.30 wt % to 0.80 wt % Manganese (Mn); from 0.15 wt % to 0.35 wt % Phosphorus (P); from 0.05 wt % to 0.11 wt % Sulphur (S); from 0.60 wt % to 1.20 wt % Copper (Cu); from 0.10 wt % to 0.30 wt % Chromium (Cr); from greater than 0.0 wt % to 0.1 wt % Nickle (Ni); from 0.15 wt % to 0.40 wt % Molybdenum (Mo); and balance wt % Iron (Fe). The total wt % of Si, Mn, P, S, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Mo is less than about 4.10 wt %. The gray cast iron has a Carbon Equivalent (CE) from 3.00 wt % to 3.90 wt % and the product of Mn %*S % is from 0.025 to 0.045.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing powders. 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 from the crucible and produce a flow of droplets of the melt of the first material within the enclosure of the housing, wherein the droplets solidify within the enclosure, and a distribution device configured to propel a second material into the flow of droplets of the first material within the enclosure such that the second material is mixed with the droplets of the first material to produce the powder that includes the first material, the second material, and/or a reaction product thereof.

Abstract: A method of eliminating microstructure inheritance of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. The method includes heating a first amount of the Al—Si alloy to a predetermined temperature above a liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a first amount melt; holding the first amount melt at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time; stirring the first amount melt during the predetermined amount of time; heating a second amount of the Al—Si alloy above the liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a second amount melt; and mixing the first amount melt and the second amount melt to form a processed Al—Si casting alloy. The predetermined temperature is between about 750° C. to 850° C. The predetermined amount of time is between 0.1 hour to 0.5 hour. The processed Al—Si casting alloy contains about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of the first amount of the Al—Si alloy.

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: Systems and methods of making a cast steel alloy crankshaft for an internal combustion engine are provided. The method comprises providing a mold of the crankshaft. The mold has cavities to form the crankshaft. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material at between 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 1600° C. to define a molten metallic material. In addition, the method further comprises feeding the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle of between 30° and 75° in the cavities of the negative sand cast mold. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material at a solidification time of between 5 seconds (sec) and 20 sec in the negative sand cast mold with at least one chill member to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the cast steel alloy crankshaft. Furthermore, the method comprises separating the solidified metallic material from the negative sand cast mold to define the cast steel alloy crankshaft.

Abstract: A method of eliminating microstructure inheritance of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. The method includes heating a first amount of the Al—Si alloy to a predetermined temperature above a liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a first amount melt; holding the first amount melt at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time; stirring the first amount melt during the predetermined amount of time; heating a second amount of the Al—Si alloy above the liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a second amount melt; and mixing the first amount melt and the second amount melt to form a processed Al—Si casting alloy. The predetermined temperature is between about 750° C. to 850° C. The predetermined amount of time is between 0.1 hour to 0.5 hour. The processed Al—Si casting alloy contains about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of the first amount of the Al—Si alloy.

Abstract: A method to manufacture an automobile vehicle engine aluminum piston, comprises: printing an aluminum piston crown portion including an additive manufacturing (AM) piston crown work piece using initial aluminum powders defining an initial aluminum powder bed; removing the aluminum piston crown portion from the initial aluminum powder bed; fixedly joining a cast iron ring carrier to the AM piston crown work piece; placing the aluminum piston crown portion together with the cast iron ring carrier into a secondary and a tertiary aluminum powder bed; and printing a piston skirt integrally connected to the AM piston crown work piece and to the cast iron ring carrier.

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 to manufacture an automobile vehicle engine aluminum piston, comprises: printing an aluminum piston crown portion including an additive manufacturing (AM) piston crown work piece using initial aluminum powders defining an initial aluminum powder bed; removing the aluminum piston crown portion from the initial aluminum powder bed; fixedly joining a cast iron ring carrier to the AM piston crown work piece; placing the aluminum piston crown portion together with the cast iron ring carrier into a secondary and a tertiary aluminum powder bed; and printing a piston skirt integrally connected to the AM piston crown work piece and to the cast iron ring carrier.

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: The concepts described herein provide a method, system, and apparatus for joining, via welding, first and second members fabricated from an aluminum alloy including aluminum, zinc, and manganese, such as 7000-series aluminum alloys, and a resultant workpiece. A junction is formed by a first member being disposed contiguously to a second member. A welding machine generates a weld pool at the junction that includes liquified aluminum alloy. An ultrasonic transducer directs ultrasonic energy in proximity to the weld pool. In some embodiments, an electro-magnetic transducer directs electro-magnetic energy in proximity to the weld pool. The first member is fused to the second member at the junction upon solidification of the weld pool.

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.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for continuously producing cast metal components. An exemplary method includes feeding molten metal into a first mold at a fill station; maintaining a pressurized chamber at an elevated pressure; moving the first mold into the pressurized chamber, wherein the molten metal solidifies in the first mold under the elevated pressure; and removing the first mold from the pressurized chamber.

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: An engine for a vehicle. The engine includes a cast engine block having a hybrid insert disposed in a fastener bore having rolled internal threads. The hybrid insert includes an internal surface having cut inner diameter (ID) threads and an external surface having rolled outer diameter (OD) threads. The rolled OD threads of the hybrid insert are received in the rolled internal threads of the fastener bore. The hybrid threaded insert may include a bi-metal in which the ID threads are formed of one metal alloy and the OD threads are formed of another metal alloy. Alternatively, the external surface of the hybrid insert may define locking features and the engine block is cast onto these locking features, thereby locking the hybrid insert to the engine block.

Abstract: A system and method of increasing a cooling rate of a metal sand casting during solidification. The system includes a 3-D printed manufactured sand mold defining a mold cavity, a coolant inlet port extending into the manufactured sand mold, a myriad of coolant passageways surrounding a portion of the mold cavity, and a coolant outlet port in fluid communication with the coolant passageways. The system further includes a coolant vapor extraction system having a collection manifold in fluid connection with the outlet port of the sand mold. A molten metal is poured into the mold cavity and a liquid coolant is introduced into the sand mold. The liquid coolant changes state into a gas phase as it permeates through the sand mold, thereby increasing the cooling rate of the casting. The liquid coolant may be that of a liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a cast iron crankshaft for a vehicle are provided. The system comprises a molding unit arranged to form a negative sand cast mold of the cast iron crankshaft. The mold comprising at least one molded cavity having a pattern with dimensions of the cast iron crankshaft. The system further comprises a feeding mechanism comprising a riser having a connector through which molten metallic material flows to the cast mold. The feeding mechanism feeds the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle in the at least one mold cavity. The riser connection angle corresponds to a connector modulus. The connector modulus is 20% greater than a cast modulus. The riser geometry corresponds to a riser modulus. The riser modulus is 20% greater than the connector modulus. The system further comprises a furnace, a cooling area, a separation unit, a controller and a power source.

Abstract: A system and method of increasing a cooling rate of a metal sand casting during solidification. The system includes a 3-D printed manufactured sand mold defining a mold cavity, a coolant inlet port extending into the manufactured sand mold, a myriad of coolant passageways surrounding a portion of the mold cavity, and a coolant outlet port in fluid communication with the coolant passageways. The system further includes a coolant vapor extraction system having a collection manifold in fluid connection with the outlet port of the sand mold. A molten metal is poured into the mold cavity and a liquid coolant is introduced into the sand mold. The liquid coolant changes state into a gas phase as it permeates through the sand mold, thereby increasing the cooling rate of the casting. The liquid coolant may be that of a liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: A magnesium (Mg) alloy housing for a drive unit of an electric vehicle (EV) having a drive shaft connected to an electric motor is provided. The Mg alloy housing comprises a body comprising Mg alloy. The body is arranged to house the drive unit of the EV. The housing further comprises a cylindrical hub disposed on the body. The hub has a bore formed therethrough and arranged to couple the drive shaft of the electric motor to the drive unit. The hub comprises a Mg portion having an inner surface. The hub further comprises an aluminum (Al) insert having an outerface. The Al insert is arranged to be disposed on the Mg portion such that the inner surface is aligned with the outerface defining a weld interface. The Al insert comprises iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) and having a Fe/Mn weight ratio of between 1:20 and 1:30.