Patent ID: 7441584
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: B22D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for quickly and efficiently producing a high strength metal part within a die cavity defined by a die set above a vertical die cast press including a shot sleeve having a generally vertical axis and a shot piston movable axially within the shot sleeve by a power actuator, the shot sleeve and shot piston defining a shot chamber having a horizontal width greater than its vertical depth, the method comprising the steps of, positioning a multiple axis programmable robot adjacent the vertical die cast press with the robot having a rotatable and orbital output shaft with a generally vertical axis, connecting the output shaft of the robot to a generally vertical shaft of a depending homogenizing member having at least one arm generally parallel to the shot piston and a generally vertical outer end portion generally parallel to the shot sleeve heating a solid metal to form a liquified molten metal, pouring the molten metal into the shot chamber, lowering the homogenizing member with the robot downwardly into the molten metal within the shot chamber, cooling the shot sleeve and the shot piston for cooling the molten metal within the shot chamber to form semi-solid metal adjacent the shot sleeve and the shot piston, simultaneously rotating and orbiting the shaft and the homogenizing member with the robot in a horizontal orbital path while the molten metal is being cooled by the shot sleeve and the shot piston causing the arm and the end portion to move more solidified semi-solid metal adjacent the shot sleeve and adjacent the shot piston inwardly into more liquified semi-solid metal within a central portion of the shot chamber for quickly producing a homogenized semi-solid slurry of uniform consistency throughout the shot chamber, retracting the homogenizing member upwardly with the robot from the homogenized slurry within the shot chamber, positioning the die set above the shot chamber, moving the shot piston upwardly to transfer the homogenized semi-solid slurry from the shot chamber into the die cavity, and allowing the semi-solid slurry to solidify within the die cavity to form the high strength metal part.