Patent ID: 7641746

Claim:
A method of processing a cast metal article comprising: determining a process control temperature for the metal to be cast, wherein: the process control temperature is a temperature below which for every one minute of time the temperature of the metal decreases, more than one minute of additional heat treatment is required to attain desired physical properties of the cast metal article, and the process control temperature is less than about 570° C.; pouring the metal in a molten state into a mold; transferring the mold to a heat treatment station including a heat treatment furnace; during transfer of the mold, monitoring the temperature of the metal within the mold and applying heat as needed to the metal within the mold, so as to maintain the temperature of the metal within the mold at or above the process control temperature but below a heat treatment temperature for the metal within the mold from the pouring until heat treatment of the cast metal article, so as to allow the metal to solidify sufficiently to form the cast metal article while enabling shorter heat treatment time for the cast metal article; and heat treating the metal within the cast metal article in the heat treatment furnace.