Metal sorting, melting and fabrication apparatus and methods

A system for producing a target molten metal composition, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to generate and output a control signal;
• a sorting device;
• a decoater;
• and
• a furnace,
• wherein the sorting device comprises:
• a metals input configured to receive pieces of metal as input;
• a control signal input configured to receive the control signal output by the at least one processor, the control signal specifying at least one metal for the sorting device to preferentially output;
• a classification module configured to determine classifications of the input pieces of metal;
• and
• a metals output configured to output sorted pieces of metal to the decoater based on the determined classifications of the pieces of metal and the control signal, the sorted pieces of metal including the at least one metal;
• wherein the decoater comprises:
• an input coupled to the sorting device to receive the sorted pieces of metal output from the sorting device;
• and
• a combustion chamber configured to remove organic materials from the pieces of metal by combusting said organic materials, thereby producing decoated pieces of metal;
• wherein the furnace is coupled to the decoater and is configured to receive the decoated pieces of metal from the decoater and to melt the received pieces of metal to generate a bath of molten metal, the furnace comprising at least one sensor configured to analyze a composition of the bath of molten metal;
• and
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive data from the at least one sensor indicating the composition of the bath of molten metal, and wherein the control signal generated by the at least one processor is generated according to the received data received from the at least one sensor.