Southwire Company, LLC

Dale D Proctor

George C Ward

Daniel B Cofer

What is disclosed herein is an apparatus for producing a hot-formed product from a cast metal without homogenizing of the cast metal between a casting means and a hot-forming means. The apparatus includes a conditioning means for reducing the cross-sectional area of the cast metal with a single compression by at least 36% as the cast metal passes at substantially hot-forming temperature between the casting means and the hot-forming means. The reduction of the cross-sectional area of the cast metal by at least 36% substantially destroys the as cast dendritic structure of the cast metal prior to the cast metal being hot-formed in the hot-forming means and results in hot-forming being achieved without the splitting and cracking of the cast metal which would otherwise occur in the absence of conventional homogenizing. The conditioning means is disclosed as being either a separate means positioned between the casting means and the hot-forming means or a part of the hot-forming means arranged to accomplish a reduction of at least 36% as the initial step in the hot-forming of the cast metal.

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Carrollton, GA, United States of America

Dale D Proctor