Patent ID: 6772821
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A system for manufacturing metal or metal-alloy castings, comprising:a die for forming metal or metal-alloy castings; a plurality of sensors suitably positioned, relative to said die, for measuring levels of a corresponding plurality of physical parameters during formation of each metal or metal-alloy casting by said die; means for marking each said metal or metal-alloy casting formed by said die with a unique identifier; and a computer system, coupled to each one of said plurality of sensors and said marking means, said computer system recording a level of each one of said plurality of physical parameters for each said metal or metal-alloy casting formed by said die and associating said levels of said plurality of physical parameters recorded during formation of each said metal or metal-alloy casting with said unique identifier marked thereon; wherein said plurality of sensors further comprises: at least one temperature sensor for measuring temperature of said die during formation of said metal or metal-alloy castings; and a pressure sensor for measuring pressure within a cavity formed by interior side surfaces of said die; and wherein said die further comprises a fixed cover portion and a movable ejector portion sealingly coupleable with said fixed cover portion and wherein said at least one temperature sensor further comprises: a first temperature sensor for measuring temperature at a first location along said cover portion of said die; a second temperature sensor for measuring temperature at a second location along said cover portion of said die; a third temperature sensor for measuring temperature at a first location along said ejector portion of said die; and a fourth temperature sensor for measuring temperature at a second location along said ejector portion of said die.