Abstract: One embodiment includes an insert including a body portion; a plurality of tabs extending from the body portion, wherein the tabs are tapered; and wherein the insert is constructed and arranged to provide damping.

Abstract: Residual stress is reduced in light metal alloy articles, e.g. aluminum alloy articles, formed as castings against a sand casting mold body by incorporating a wax composition of suitable softening or melting temperature with the sand particles of the mold or core body. The hot cast metal heats adjoining surfaces of the mold body. As the cooling metal forms a solid shell, the surrounding sand particle and wax mixture are heated sufficiently to melt or soften the wax incorporated on or between sand particles. This softens portions of the rigid mold body that could otherwise restrain shrinking surfaces of the casting and produce unwanted stressed regions that are retained in the casting and must be removed by subsequent processing.

Abstract: A method for generating a manufacturing process map comprises obtaining sets of N-dimensional expert data from at least three sources, defining a membership function for each set of expert data, applying fuzzy logic operations to said membership functions to generate new membership functions, the new membership functions defining N-dimensional regions within an N-dimensional design space and using one of said N-dimensional regions to generate the manufacturing process map.

Abstract: A method for generating a manufacturing process map comprises obtaining sets of N-dimensional expert data from at least three sources, defining a membership function for each set of expert data, applying fuzzy logic operations to said membership functions to generate new membership functions, the new membership functions defining N-dimensional regions within an N-dimensional design space and using one of said N-dimensional regions to generate the manufacturing process map.