The article presents preliminary results of the research on the ablation casting technology. The guidelines for the designing of an equipment to carry out the process were described. Based on the above-mentioned instructions a test stand was developed and built. Many tests were performed concerning the influence of the water jet directed at a sand mould on its removal tendency. The effect of the cooling rate of a tested cast parts on its microstructure was studied based on metallographic and radiographic examinations.

The article presents studies of the influence of titanium on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the zinc casting alloy ZL2. The positive effect of its addition on the strength of die castings made of this alloy was found. Castings with the addition of titanium had a fine structure and higher tensile strength (approx. 255 MPa for an alloy with Ti addition) compared to the base material (approx. 200 MPa). The addition of the modifier also increased the hardness of the obtained castings from 100 HBW (ZL2) to 130 HBW (alloy with the addition of Ti).

The article presents the optimization of high-pressure die casting process technology for equestrian stirrups with the application of computer simulation. In the initial stage, the output technology was analyzed, and on the basis of a series of virtual experiments the cause of defects in the casting was highlighted. The optimization process includes different designs of a gating system. Additionally, the casting application properties were evaluated in an exploitation simulation, taking into account predicted defects resulting from the casting and solidification process. Based on the conducted analyses, technological changes were made to the casting technology design allowing the defects occurring in the original technological concept to be removed.