Abstract:
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a shaped precision article from molten metal or molten metal alloy wherein a gas atomised stream of molten metal or molten metal alloy is directed at a collecting surface to form a coherent deposit, the stream being cooled in flight by the atomising gas, which is at ambient, preferably room temperature, sufficient heat being extracted by the relatively cold atomising gas from the stream of molten metal in flight such that formation of the coherent deposit is independent or substantially independent of the thermal properties and temperature of the collecting surface, provided the temperature of the collecting surface is below the melting point of the metal or metal alloy being sprayed; and the deposit is worked as by a die to form the precision metal or metal alloy article.