Systems and methods for a thermistor furnace

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture that provide for a thermistor furnace, such as for melting, casting, and/or smelting loads (e.g., precious metals, other metals such as titanium, and/or thermoset plastics), are provided. In some embodiments, the thermistor furnace may comprise a vacuum spin casting apparatus capable of utilizing various types and configurations of molds, such as graphite and/or plaster molds.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an electric circuit configured to accept an electric current;   a crucible-mold configured to spin about an axis of rotation, the crucible-mold defining a vacuum chamber, and the crucible-mold comprising a portion of the electric circuit; and   a pressure device coupled to apply pressure to the crucible-mold.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure device is coupled to apply pressure to the crucible-mold during a spinning of the crucible-mold about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure device is coupled to apply pressure to the crucible-mold during a heating of the crucible-mold due to the electric current. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure device also comprises a portion of the electric circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the crucible-mold comprises graphite. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a load disposed within the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the load comprises at least on of a precious metal and titanium. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wobble device coupled to be engaged to shift the axis of rotation from comprising a line of intersection between a first geometric plane and a second geometric plane, to comprising a line of intersection between the first geometric plane and a third geometric plane.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a viewport coupled to allow viewing of the vacuum chamber.   
     
     
         10 . A thermistor furnace, comprising:
 a hermetically-sealable housing;   a bottom rotational shaft disposed within the housing;   a mold configured to accept a load, the mold being seated on the bottom rotational shaft within the housing;   a top rotational shaft disposed within the housing, the top rotational shaft configured to rest upon the mold, thereby applying a weight force to the mold, and the top rotational shaft being rotationally engageable with the bottom rotational shaft;   a vacuum device coupled to place the hermetically-sealable housing in a vacuum state; and   an electric current device coupled to direct electrical current through the mold, thereby heating the mold.   
     
     
         11 . The furnace of  claim 10 , wherein the electric current device is further coupled to direct the electrical current through at least one of the top rotational shaft and the bottom rotational shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The furnace of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a rotational device coupled to provide rotational energy to at least one of the top rotational shaft and the bottom rotational shaft.   
     
     
         13 . The furnace of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a monitoring port configured to allow monitoring of a load within the mold during application of current by the electric current device.   
     
     
         14 . The furnace of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a caster device coupled to allow an axis of rotation of the top rotational shaft and the bottom rotational shaft to be adjusted during rotation about the axis.   
     
     
         15 . The furnace of  claim 10 , wherein the mold comprises an isotropic graphite mold. 
     
     
         16 . The furnace of  claim 10 , wherein the load comprises at least one of a precious metal load and a titanium load. 
     
     
         17 . A method of thermistor vacuum spin casting of a load, comprising:
 applying electric current to an electric circuit comprising a thermistor casting mold, the thermistor casting mold defining a chamber in which a load is disposed;   causing a vacuum to occur in the chamber of the thermistor casting mold;   spinning the thermistor casting mold about an axis of rotation; and   applying physical pressure to the thermistor casting mold.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the spinning and the applying of the pressure occur during the causing of the vacuum in the chamber of the thermistor casting mold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the applying electric current, causing, spinning, and applying pressure is conducted by an electronic processing device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electric current comprises D/C current, the load comprises at least one of a precious metal load and a titanium load, and the D/C current causes the metal load to melt.