Patent ID: 6779583
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing castings, comprising:selecting a first set of conditions for the manufacture of castings; manufacturing a first series of castings under said first selected set of conditions; measuring the level of each one of said first selected set of conditions during the manufacture of said first series of castings; marking each one of said first series of castings with a unique identifier; identifying defects in said first series of castings; selecting a second set of conditions for the manufacture of castings, said second set of conditions determined by modifying said first selected set of conditions based upon said identified defects in said first series of castings; and manufacturing a second series of castings under said second set of conditions; wherein selecting a first set of conditions for the manufacture of castings further comprises: identifying a set of conditions which affect the manufacture of castings; performing a first set of Taguchi Design Of Experiments (â€œDOEsâ€ ) to determine which, of said identified set of conditions, exert the most influence on the quality of said castings to be manufactured; wherein said selected set of conditions is comprised of said conditions determined as exerting the most influence on the quality of said castings to be manufactured; and wherein selecting a second set of conditions for the manufacture of castings further comprises: associating a first one of said identified defects in said first series of casting with the level of each one of said first selected set of conditions during manufacture of a casting having said first one of said identified defects; based upon said association of said identified defect with the level of each one of said first selected set of conditions during manufacture of said casting having said identified defect, identifying one or more of said first selected set of conditions in need of modification; and modifying the level of said identified one or more of said first selected set of conditions.