Abstract: A die casting system for manufacturing die castings configured for measuring plural physical parameters during the forming of each die casting and to associate the measured physical parameters with the specific die casting manufactured under those conditions and any defect information subsequently acquired for that die casting. By enabling a die casting manufacturing system to associate such types of information, control over the manufacturing process may be enhanced.

Abstract: An evaluation method in which a capacitive sensor is placed in a region of a container, into which a granular material is fed so as to contact the sensor, and the variation in the impedance of the sensor caused by feeding in the material is evaluated. The method is particularly useful for evaluating the compactness of sand in a formwork for making metal castings. The evaluation system includes a sensor defined by plates sensitive to the variation in the dielectric; and a conditioning and control circuit for indicating the variation in the capacitance of the plates, or more generally the total impedance of the system, when the granular material is fed into the container. In one embodiment, the plates of the sensor are defined by two combs made of conducting material, having two numbers of interlacing segments, and located on a rigid or flexible support.

Abstract: A bar code identification stencil for uniquely identifying a plurality of articles. The stencil includes a carrier strip which carries an identification code. The identification code is formed of a plurality of spaced a part markers which are used to form a machine readable bar code. The bar code is unique for each of the plurality of articles to be identified.

Abstract: A bar code identification stencil for uniquely identifying a plurality of articles. The stencil includes a carrier strip, which carries an identification code or symbology. The identification code or symbology is formed of a plurality of spaced apart data cells, or data cells, which are used to form a machine readable bar code. The stencil will be made of materials compatible to the manufacturing processes, which make the articles to be marked, and compatible to the materials out of which the articles to be marked are made. The stencil is scalable in size and shape, as are the data cells, or data cells, scalable in size and shape—all as required by the specifications of the data symbology to be directly marked on the part, or article. The bar code is unique for each of the plurality of articles to be identified.

Abstract: Spray form cell including a two-wavelength imaging pyrometer adapted to provide real-time measurement of the surface temperature distribution of a metal billet thereby formed. The steel billets may be advantageously used as tools in metal forming processes, injection molding, die casting tooling and other processes that require hard tooling, such as in the automotive industry. The steel billet is formed based on a goal of uniform surface temperature distribution thereby minimizing thermal stresses induced within the steel article thereby produced.

Abstract: The present invention includes molding additives and molded materials. This invention also includes machines or electronic apparatus using these aspects of the invention. The present invention also includes methods and processes for making and using these devices and systems. In a preferred embodiment, a dye that fluoresces via ultraviolet absorption is dispersed in an organic additive. The additive is mixed with a molding material that is then formed into a shaped article by compaction. The resultant shaped article is then observed under an ultraviolet lamp to determine fluorescence variation, such variation corresponding to density gradients in the article.

Abstract: The maintenance of tools having functional parts located in their interior is facilitated considerably if these functional parts can be permanently observed and monitored without the tool needing to be dismantled. For this purpose coverable recesses are provided in the body of the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for casting a continuous metal strand, in particular steel, in a continuous casting apparatus having strand parts disposed opposite one another and being fitted with bearings in which guide rollers are mounted, and having actuators by which a gap between respective opposed rollers can be set infinitely variable, and which method includes sensing a value representing a compressive force which occurs in the bearings and feeding said value to a computing unit; comparing the individual measured force values of a roller or of a pair of oppositely disposed rollers with respect to a level of the force; and utilizing at least the relating highest value measured as a command variable for controlling the gap and/or the casting rate and/or the amount of cooling water and/or the melt feed and/or the casting powder feed and/or the mold oscillation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the condition of the flow of liquid metal in or from a teeming vessel includes one or more sensors for detecting vibration caused by a flow of liquid metal in or from the teeming vessel and for outputting a sensor signal corresponding to mechanical and acoustic vibrations detected by the sensor. A signal processor receives the sensor signal and compares the sensor signal to a reference calibration signal and outputs a comparison signal. A logic unit receives the comparison signal and outputs a status signal indicative of the condition of the flow of the liquid metal in or from the teeming vessel which can be used to stop the flow of metal. The calibration signal can be static or may be dynamically updated.

Abstract: A method for detecting a seized or still standing roller in a track of rollers in a continuous casting machine, in which each roller is rotatably mounted in supporting members and is arranged with its axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the track so that the rollers are arranged to transport elongated material produced in the machine. The method includes measuring a load exerted on at least one supporting member of each roller, with the load being substantially parallel with the extent of the track. The existence of a seized or still standing roller is established when the load deviates from a predetermined value by virtue of a force induced on the roller by seizure or stoppage of the roller at the contact with the transported material.

Abstract: A strand pulling-off method for a metal strip cast in a curved continuous casting plant and a curved continuous casting plant, wherein the metal strip is initially pulled vertically from a casting mold using a curved entry segment driven with an entry speed. A curved shape is imparted to the metal strip in the curved entry segment such that the metal strip travels in a circular arc. The metal strip is straightened after reaching a horizontal strip travel direction using a curved exit segment driven with an exit speed and conveying the metal strip out of the curved exit segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the determination of the form of graphite in spheroidal and compacted/vermicular cast irons comprising of the first step for collecting molten cast iron, measuring quantity of dissolved oxygen therein and confirming the effect of spherodizing or compacted/vermiculation of graphite in said molten cast iron, the second step for measuring eutectic temperature of said molten cast iron by thermal analyzing, and the third step for comparing said eutectic temperature with a threshold temperature at which said cast iron being separated spherodized graphite phase from compacted/vermiculation phase.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the early recognition of ruptures when continuously casting steel using an oscillating mold constructed of copper plates, wherein the method includes continuously and comparatively measuring operating parameters, for example, the temperature distribution with respect to location and time in the copper plates, and analyzing the obtained measurement results. For increasing the probability of an accurate evaluation of indications of an acute tendency of ruptures, two measuring data to be compared are coupled with each other as well as with measuring data of at least one third measuring row, and the measuring data are preferably analyzed online.

Abstract: A molding material is forced by a shooting device (3) into an openable tool (4) and solidified therein to a component of a mold (2)—a core or shell. The mold component (2) is removed when the tool (4) is open, and subsequently handled in any desired sequence, transported, and, if need be completed to a core assembly (1). The tools (4) are measured in a noncontacting manner in the region of the shooting device (3) and/or manipulators (5) and/or processing stations (6) and/or storage areas (7) and/or conveying paths (8), that the measured data are supplied to a computer (9), if need be, processed therein, and compared with stored desired values, and that the tools (4) are identified as defective, when a predeterminable or definable deviation from the desired values is detected.