Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle includes 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 includes primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with the cavities. The method further includes 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 system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle includes providing a negative cast mold having cavities to form the cradle and providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism includes a plurality of primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with cavities. The method further includes melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, and moving the mold to a vertical casting orientation about a rotational axis, while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities, and cooling the molten metallic material to define a solidified metallic material. 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 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 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, and comprises providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism comprises a plurality of primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with cavities. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, and comprises moving the mold to a vertical casting orientation about a rotational axis, while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material to define a solidified metallic material. 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.