Abstract: A process for counter gravity sand casting including providing precision cores in a sand mould supported in a casting machine for rotation about a horizontal axis through the center of the mould, providing primary casting risers fed by a launder section, a pressure riser connected to the launder section and the primary risers, rising upwardly beside the mould, whereby on rotation the molten metal in the pressure riser will maintain an internal constant pressure in the mould until the casting risers are upper most, so as to maintain the internal pressure during the cooling of the mould.

Abstract: A composite shut-off means for casting moulds, including a sliding closure made of sand and a compressive refractory material. The sliding closure has a passageway passing through it so as to allow the selective passage of molten metal there through, and a filtering means for the molten metal that filters the metal as it passes through the passageway. The means for retaining the sliding closure, are attached to the mould, so that in use, the mould can be closed and sealed by the sliding closure, and removed from the launder.

Abstract: A segmented die assembly for the casting of a metal object, the die assembly incorporating chill segments that are cooled using oil and/or water and/or air, the segments being interconnected and moved by actuators under the control of a Fuzzy logic module, wherein in use the assembly ensures that the chill maintains contact with the surface of the casting as it solidifies.

Abstract: A method of providing an iron cylinder liner (1) for incorporation in a cast aluminium block for an internal combustion engine, including the steps of placing the liner (1) in a heated fluidised bed so as to simultaneously clean and heat the liner, and then positioning the cleaned and heated liner on the sand barrel core (2). The barrel core having been sized to accept the heated and thus expanded liner, which will subsequently cool and retract locking the liner onto the sand core in the correct position, in readiness for casting of the aluminium cylinder block.

Abstract: A process for counter gravity sand casting including providing precision cores in a sand mould supported in a casting machine for rotation about a horizontal axis through the center of the mould, providing primary casting risers fed by a launder section, a pressure riser connected to the launder section and the primary risers, rising upwardly beside the mould, whereby on rotation a the molten metal in the pressure riser will maintain a internal constant pressure in the mould until the casting risers are upper most, so as to maintain the internal pressure during the cooling of the mould.

Abstract: An engine block mold, including at least one barrel slab core (10), the or each barrel slab core (10) including a slab portion (12), and at least one barrel portion (14) adapted to receive a cylinder liner (1), wherein the barrel portion (14) of the or each barrel slab core (10) has an outer diametral taper along at least a portion of its length, and the or each liner (1) has a substantially matching internal diametral taper along at least a portion of its length. Inserting the or each slab barrel core (10) with the or each liner (1) disposed upon it, into a substantially completed mold casing, filling the mold, and then machining the cylinder liners (1) so that they have a substantially constant internal diameter along their length.