Advanced Feed System for Semi Solid Casting

A feed system for semi-solid metal casting, the system comprising:

• a first chamber for receiving an alloy billet, the first chamber including heaters and a cutting system, wherein the alloy billet is heated by the heaters and cut by the cutting system into predetermined lengths to form semi-solid metal portions,
• a gas purging system providing a positive pressure of an inert gas to the first chamber;
• and
• a second chamber connected to the first chamber by a passage, the second chamber including a door that opens and closes the passage and a plunger system that introduces the semi-solid metal portions to a die cast machine.

A method of feeding alloy billet to a die cast machine, the method comprising:

• introducing the alloy billet into a first chamber including heaters and a cutting system;
• heating the alloy billet in a first chamber under a substantially oxygen free environment to a temperature at which the alloy billet is a semi-solid;
• cutting the alloy billet in the first chamber into semi-solid metal alloy portions having a predetermined length;
• introducing the semi-solid metal alloy portions into a second chamber through a passage between the first and second chamber, the second chamber including a door that opens and closes the passage and a plunger system;
• and
• introducing the semi-solid metal alloy portions into the die cast machine by the plunger system.