Apparatus is provided for forming aluminum alloy ingots in a sealed chamber having a source of inert gas using a crucible positioned inside the chamber for melting aluminum alloy powder. The crucible has a solid top and a source of inert gas therein. An outlet in the crucible is positioned to draw molten alloy from the crucible at a point proximate the lowest point in the crucible. A tundish adapted to control the flow of molten alloy from the crucible on a path to at least one ingot mold out of the sealed chamber