Patent ID: 6557617
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A method for process monitoring during one of die casting and thixo-forming of metals in a mould under a vacuum, comprising:continuously measuring the change in temperature (T) as a function of time in the mould wall proximate to a shape-giving surface of the mould; calculating the change in temperature (To) at the shape-giving surface of the mould in real time from the measured change in temperature (T); determining the change in heat flow (W) as a function of time from the calculated temperature (To); and calculating from the change in heat flow (W) both the change in energy (U) at the shape-giving surface of the mould and the magnitude of the heat of solidification (UE) of the metal in the mould, wherein values (To, W, U, UE) calculated at a given time are used as characteristics for monitoring purposes.