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I'm wondering what process uses molten metal. Or if it was another process that ended up creating molten metal (like a battery fire of some sort). Given the hy

I'm wondering what process uses molten metal. Or if it was another process that ended up creating molten metal (like a battery fire of some sort). Given the hydraulic fluid mention I was also speculating that a gigapress might be involved. Like everyone commenting I am always amazed at exothermic events that can't be put out by water or CO2. The only one I've ever seen "in person" (other than the obligatory set some magnesium on fire in chemistry) was a halon dump on an IBM System 370 when the water coolant system burst a pipe and shorted the many bus bars. That one triggered a 15 second siren followed by a halon dump. I found it quite exciting, the plant manager, not so much.

dayyan 6y ago
Giga press.
shagie 6y ago
> That one triggered a 15 second siren followed by a halon dump. I found it quite exciting, the plant manager, not so much. I am reminded of The Vax War - https://www.hactrn.net/sra/vaxen.html https://www.hactrn.net/sra/vaxen.html Some may recall its opening (and closing) line: > VAXen, my children, just don't belong some places. The story involves a VAX 750, and an IBM 3090. The passage that will get you to start shaking you head is: > The fire alarm klaxon went off and the siren warning of imminent halon gas release was screaming. We started to panic but the data center manager shouted over the din, ``Don't worry, the halon system failed its acceptance test last week. It's disabled and nothing will happen.''
- ethbr0 6y ago
  Thank you!!! Was trying to find this a week ago, but couldn't find the right set of search terms.
- macksd 6y ago
  Is that a true story, and would that really have impacted Black Monday?
- Angostura 6y ago
  I never expected to find an anti-VAXer on HN
xeromal 6y ago
I'm pretty sure the machine in question is the giga press. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press One of the largest pressing machines in the world. I think it currently presses 1/3 of the frame of a model y but they're hoping to press an entire model Y frame eventually.
- userbinator 6y ago
  "press" is a bit of a misnomer, as it actually does die casting.
  - edoceo 6y ago
    Die cast? Just like Matchbox!
  - JohnJamesRambo 6y ago
    Thank you for this I was trying to figure out what was being pressed exactly. What is special about the GigaPress die casting?
    - Robotbeat 6y ago
      Being able to make large, complex parts in seconds to high tolerances. A way cheaper way to make a car if you figure it out.
      - gibolt 6y ago
        Injection apparently happens in milliseconds, which is crazy at the scale of half a car.
        baybal2 6y ago
        But you get weaker parts
        6y ago
seniorgarcia 6y ago
It's a "molten metal" machine at the Fremont factory, it contains "molten aluminum" and is used to stamp vehicle parts... so yeah, "Giga press". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press
nickik 6y ago
Its aluminum die casting. This is the product that is produced there: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0173/8204/7844/articles/1_22bfcb04-4ba8-4af1-8d35-02fc97670733_1600x.png https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0173/8204/7844/articles/1_...
- baybal2 6y ago
  Not really casting, the process is more close to a metal injection molding/rheocasting.
baybal2 6y ago
> I'm wondering what process uses molten metal. Casting
rcxdude 6y ago
> Like everyone commenting I am always amazed at exothermic events that can't be put out by water or CO2 Possibly the most extreme being chlorine triflouride, so reactive it's a better oxidiser than oxygen, as a result it can burn sand: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/sand_wont_save_you_this_time https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/sa...

dayyan 6y ago

Giga press.

shagie 6y ago

> That one triggered a 15 second siren followed by a halon dump. I found it quite exciting, the plant manager, not so much. I am reminded of The Vax War - https://www.hactrn.net/sra/vaxen.html https://www.hactrn.net/sra/vaxen.html Some may recall its opening (and closing) line: > VAXen, my children, just don't belong some places. The story involves a VAX 750, and an IBM 3090. The passage that will get you to start shaking you head is: > The fire alarm klaxon went off and the siren warning of imminent halon gas release was screaming. We started to panic but the data center manager shouted over the din, ``Don't worry, the halon system failed its acceptance test last week. It's disabled and nothing will happen.''

ethbr0 6y ago
Thank you!!! Was trying to find this a week ago, but couldn't find the right set of search terms.
macksd 6y ago
Is that a true story, and would that really have impacted Black Monday?
Angostura 6y ago
I never expected to find an anti-VAXer on HN

xeromal 6y ago

I'm pretty sure the machine in question is the giga press. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press One of the largest pressing machines in the world. I think it currently presses 1/3 of the frame of a model y but they're hoping to press an entire model Y frame eventually.

userbinator 6y ago
"press" is a bit of a misnomer, as it actually does die casting.
- edoceo 6y ago
  Die cast? Just like Matchbox!
- JohnJamesRambo 6y ago
  Thank you for this I was trying to figure out what was being pressed exactly. What is special about the GigaPress die casting?
  - Robotbeat 6y ago
    Being able to make large, complex parts in seconds to high tolerances. A way cheaper way to make a car if you figure it out.
    - gibolt 6y ago
      Injection apparently happens in milliseconds, which is crazy at the scale of half a car.
      - baybal2 6y ago
        But you get weaker parts
        6y ago

seniorgarcia 6y ago

It's a "molten metal" machine at the Fremont factory, it contains "molten aluminum" and is used to stamp vehicle parts... so yeah, "Giga press". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Press

nickik 6y ago

Its aluminum die casting. This is the product that is produced there: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0173/8204/7844/articles/1_22bfcb04-4ba8-4af1-8d35-02fc97670733_1600x.png https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0173/8204/7844/articles/1_...

baybal2 6y ago
Not really casting, the process is more close to a metal injection molding/rheocasting.

baybal2 6y ago

> I'm wondering what process uses molten metal. Casting

rcxdude 6y ago

> Like everyone commenting I am always amazed at exothermic events that can't be put out by water or CO2 Possibly the most extreme being chlorine triflouride, so reactive it's a better oxidiser than oxygen, as a result it can burn sand: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/sand_wont_save_you_this_time https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/sa...