System, apparatus, and method for mold starter block alignment

A method of aligning a continuous casting mold with a starter block comprising:

• advancing at least one bearing assembly to a raised position with a lifting mechanism, wherein the at least one bearing assembly, in the raised position, engages and supports one of the continuous casting mold within a mold frame or the starter block;
• aligning the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block with the other of the continuous casting mold or the starter block;
• and
• retracting the at least one bearing assembly to a lowered position with the lifting mechanism, wherein the at least one bearing assembly, in the lowered position, is disengaged from the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block,
• wherein, in response to the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block being engaged by and supported by the at least one bearing assembly, forces along two orthogonal directions below a first value move the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block relative to the at least one bearing assembly, and
• wherein, in response to the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block being disengaged by the at least one bearing assembly, forces along two orthogonal directions below the first value do not move the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block relative to the at least one bearing assembly.

An alignment system for aligning a starter block with a continuous casting mold supported by a mold frame, the alignment system comprising:

• a bearing assembly comprising at least one bearing having a bearing surface;
• a lifting mechanism, wherein the lifting mechanism is configured to move the bearing assembly between a lowered position in which the bearing surface is recessed below a support surface and a raised position in which the bearing surface is proud of the support surface;
• and
• a clamping mechanism configured to secure one of a starter block or a continuous casting mold to a starter block support surface or a mold frame, respectively.