System and method for monitoring ingot detachment from bottom block

A system for monitoring a mold, comprising:

• a mold defining an opening to receive molten metal and comprising a bottom block lowerable during a casting of the molten metal into an ingot;
• a launder configured to deliver the molten metal to the mold;
• a water source configured to provide water to the mold;
• a diverter configured to divert the water away from a portion of the ingot;
• a camera having a field of view including at least the portion of the ingot that the water has been diverted away from, the camera configured to capture optical data associated with the ingot;
• and
• a controller comprising a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in a memory, the controller causing the processor to perform processor operations including:
• receiving optical data associated with the portion of the ingot or the portion of the bottom block;
• determining, based on the optical data, whether separation of the portion of the ingot from the portion of the bottom block has occurred;
• and
• generating operating instructions for casting the molten metal into the ingot if it was determined that the separation has occurred.