Patent ID: 8807199

Claim:
A method of casting a component from a metal having a liquidus temperature, comprising the steps of: a) providing a die comprising: a first part defining at least part of a die cavity with an external opening; and a second part defining a chamber for housing the first part, the chamber having an opening which is registrable with the external opening of the first part when housed in the second part; b) heating the first part of the die to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of the metal whilst maintaining the second part of the die at a temperature below the liquidus temperature of the metal; c) placing the first part of the die in the chamber of the second part with the chamber opening registered with the external opening of the first part; d) introducing molten metal into the die cavity through the chamber opening; e) solidifying molten metal in the die cavity; f) removing the first part of the die from the second part after solidification, and cooling the first part independently of the second part before removing the solidified component from the first part; and g) providing a third part corresponding to the first part and repeating the steps (b) to (e) with the third part in place of the first part, wherein molten metal is introduced into the third part whilst cooling the first part independently of the second part.