Patent ID: 8079402

Claim:
A belted mold assembly, comprising: a down hole tool casting assembly comprising: a mold having an interior surface that defines a mold volume therein; a blank suspended at least partially within the mold volume, the blank comprising a top end, a bottom end, and an internal surface extending from the top end to the bottom end and surrounding a first channel formed therein that extends from the top end to the bottom end; a casting material disposed within the mold volume; a cap coupled to the upper portion of the blank, wherein the cap is positioned adjacent to at least the top end of the blank, the cap defining a second channel extending axially through the entire thickness of the cap, at least a portion of the second channel being axially aligned above the first channel; a binder pot disposed elevationally above the cap and comprising a base and a sidewall extending outwardly from the base, the base defining an opening therein that extends through the thickness of the base, the sidewall defining a binder pot volume therein; and a belt assembly comprising: a base plate; an outer belt coupled to the outer perimeter of the base plate, the outer belt and the base plate defining a belt volume therein; and a mid-belt, wherein the down hole tool casting assembly is positioned within the belt volume and wherein the mid-belt is loaded into at least a portion of the belt volume that is located between the outer perimeter of the down hole tool casting assembly and the inner perimeter of the outer belt.