Chapters
Introduction
ATO Cast induction vacuum casting furnace
Preparation
Heating casting mold
Filling & positioning crucible
Filling crucible with metal feedstock
Preparation of casting mold
Assembling & positioning mold
Melting material
Induction melting inside argon shield
Casting
Molten metal poured into mold
Opening casting mold
Retaining casted metal rods
Outro
Make metal powder & castings yourself with ATO Technology
ATO Cast – Induction vacuum casting of metal alloys
Discover the power of in-house alloy design and rod making with ATO Cast — a professional-grade induction vacuum casting furnace. Engineered for precision casting in both research and development facilities and industrial environments, ATO Cast enables accurate metal alloy casting in an inert gas atmosphere, with or without oxygen, under positive or negative pressure. Its compact, all-in-one design and seamless integration with the ATO Suite support high-efficiency workflows in circular manufacturing, enabling a closed-loop material cycle — from 3D metal printing scraps to cast rods and repowdered, printable metal powder. Ideal for high-purity applications, including casting medical components, this casting solution ensures no contamination and full homogenization of alloys with precise control over every stage of metal processing. Experience innovation in how to cast metal — with ATO Cast.
Related devices
ATO Cast
The ATO Cast is a compact, professional-grade induction vacuum casting furnace crafted to reach the highest feedstock purity. Designed for both research and production, it offers users the unique capability to design and cast their own castings from a wide range of alloys.
ATO Lab
The ATO Lab Plus is a state-of-the-art ultrasonic metal powder atomizer, perfect for producing high-quality spherical powders for Additive Manufacturing and powder metallurgy. Its compact design, innovative technology, and customizable modules ensure efficient and cost-effective powder production.
ATO Wipe
The ATO Wipe is a compact ultrasonic wire and rods cleaning system engineered to ensure the highest purity of feedstock materials for metal powder production. It combines ultrasonic cleaning technology with a set of brushes to effectively clean wires or rods. The operator can select the desired cleaned wire length or weight and ATO Wipe will clean feedstock to enhance the quality and purity of atomized metal powders to maximum with the ATO series ultrasonic metal atomizers.
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Case study Additive ManufacturingControlled Powder Production for Advanced Research Applications - INFN INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) integrated the ATO Lab ultrasonic metal atomizer into its HAMMER Hub to enable controlled, in-house metal powder production for advanced research applications. By atomizing radiopure batches and tuning particle size distribution (PSD) for PBF-LB metal Additive Manufacturing, INFN improves powder control and repeatability - measuring better powder sphericity versus commercial powders and accelerates iterative alloy development. The setup also supports INFN’s expanding materials workflow, including a new ATEX laboratory area and the IMS induction melting module for broader material routes. -
Case study Additive ManufacturingREMET - Material independence in the era of Additive Manufacturing REMET has integrated an ATO Lab ultrasonic metal atomizer to strengthen its Additive Manufacturing Metal Lab and accelerate material independence for metal 3D printing. By producing and optimizing in-house metal powders (including custom compositions and recycled feedstock), REMET improves powder quality and repeatability for demanding SLM/DMP applications. This integration expands REMET’s prototyping and validation capabilities, enabling faster iteration on advanced alloys and supporting innovative projects for aerospace, automotive, and energy industry customers. -
Materials Additive ManufacturingUltra-fine Titanium metal powder produced with new ULTRA FREQUENCY SYSTEM for Additive Manufacturing The race for innovation in Additive Manufacturing has a new front-runner: the ULTRA FREQUENCY SYSTEM —an advanced module for the ATO ultrasonic atomization platform, designed to meet the growing demand for ultra-fine metal powders.Traditionally, metal powders in the 20–120 µm range served most AM needs. However, as new applications in microfabrication, biomedical implants, and aerospace call for even finer resolutions, the ATO Lab Plus ecosystem has evolved. With the release of the ULTRA FREQUENCY SYSTEM, it’s now possible to consistently produce metal powders with a targeted particle size of approximately 25 μm—unlocking possibilities that were previously out of reach. -
Materials Additive ManufacturingProducing spherical Niobium metal powder and High-Entropy Alloys with Ultrasonic Atomization Niobium metal powders are gaining momentum in advanced manufacturing, particularly in Additive Manufacturing (AM), due to their exceptional thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and superconducting properties. These attributes make niobium an excellent choice for high-performance components in aerospace, energy, medical, and electronics industries.Furthermore, niobium is increasingly used in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) — complex material systems designed for structural integrity under extreme conditions. For researchers and developers working on HEAs or reactive alloy systems, the ability to produce high-purity niobium powder in-house is a game-changer.To showcase this capability, we have produced high-quality niobium metal powder using the ATO Lab Plus ultrasonic atomizer equipped with the Single Rod Feeding System (SRFS). This demonstration highlights the precision, consistency, and material flexibility of ATO ultrasonic metal atomization technology. -
Materials MetallurgyOptimizing ultrasonic atomization of pure Copper and it's Alloys for Additive Manufacturing applications The aim of our research was to optimize the ultrasonic atomization process of pure copper and its alloys. In this case study, we present the path of research and development (R&D) activities that we followed to achieve excellent atomization results, ensuring a high yield of perfectly spherical powder suitable for use in additive manufacturing technologies. To atomize scraps of pure copper sourced from production processes, we employed our innovative induction melting system module. By utilizing the phenomenon of magnetic induction, we melted the metal and, through a controlled pressure difference in the chamber, dosed successive portions of the molten material onto the ultrasonic system platform. This setup enabled the atomization phenomenon, producing perfectly spherical powders through ultrasound. Our study highlights the optimizations permanently implemented in our device to enhance the efficiency of the atomization process. These advancements have contributed to significant improvements in yield, precision, and quality, making the process more suitable for industrial applications. -
Materials Additive ManufacturingAluminum zero-waste metal powder production for Additive Manufacturing As we move toward a more sustainable future, recycling and zero-waste processes are critical components of the circular economy. By transforming metal scraps in any form—whether from CNC machining, granulates, or irregularly shaped materials—into high-quality, reusable materials, we’re not only enhancing our technological capabilities but also supporting global sustainability goals. These innovations align with international economic objectives set at global summits, addressing both environmental and industrial needs.
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