Space foundry

An apparatus for melting and reshaping metal from a first shape into a second shape in a microgravity or zero gravity environment, comprising:

• feedstock input componentry configured to accept conductive metal feedstock having said first shape into said apparatus at a metal input site, said feedstock input componentry comprising a mechanical input motive force generator configured to generate at least a portion of an input motive force that moves said conductive metal feedstock into said apparatus at said metal input site;
• a heater established downflow of said feedstock input componentry, said heater comprising electromagnetic field generators and at least one inner wall, and configured to melt said conductive metal feedstock to generate a melt at a melt site located in said heater,
• casting componentry configured to reshape said melt into said second shape at a casting site,
• power electronics componentry configured to power said electromagnetic field generators with alternating current so that each of said electromagnetic field generators generates an alternating electromagnetic field;
• wherein said electromagnetic field generators are configured and controlled so that said alternating electromagnetic fields effect at least a portion of a melt motive force that moves said melt through said melt site, and a steering force that prevents said melt from contacting said at least one inner wall of said heater during said movement of said melt through said melt site;
• wherein said heater defines a heater longitudinal axis, each of said electromagnetic field generators defines a respective electromagnetic field generator longitudinal axis, and at least one of said electromagnetic field generators is configured so that its respective electromagnetic field generator longitudinal axis intersects said heater longitudinal axis at a point on said heater longitudinal axis, and
• wherein said power electronics componentry enables individual control of said at least one of said electromagnetic field generators.