Cast alloy frames, ever been built ?

Tried to search any info about cast alloy frames but haven't found anything useful. Is there any attempts on casting alloy frames in the history of frame building ? Not only lugs but the whole frame. I agree that manufacturing process might be more difficult than welding tubes together, but still, just curious.

imho this is right place in the forum to start such a topic

Empire cycles do cast downhill-bikes and very nice ones at that.
I've never thought it to be the best construction for bikes as there are so much torsional forces involved and that tends to make cast things go BANG!

what about road/track frames with square geometry ? with solid frame. Form would be tricky to produce, but still...

The ride would be so unbearably harsh. The only reason it works as a downhill bike is because of all the suspension. Road frames are so much more subtle in their ride and rely on a certain degree of flex in all directions. Cast structures don't like to flex and to have a road frame strong enough to withstand all the forces, it would be at such a weight that it would be unpractical.

Frames do have cast sections though, at areas where you need it to be solid, like chainstay yokes, dropouts etc.

Monocoque = cast?

Isn't cast stuff notoriusly heavy?

thank you for brief explanation, i'm not an expert in metals. What if cast alloy road bike in it's structure would be identical to usual tubed one, with hollow tubes. Just with few minor differences that would not be noticeable in terms of weight. There is so much different types of aluminium alloy, that none of them could come close to tubes after casting process?

Try looking for Kirk Precision, they did some interesting cast magnesium alloy frames for a few years.

thank you for brief explanation, i'm not an expert in metals. What if cast alloy road bike in it's structure would be identical to usual tubed one, with hollow tubes. Just with few minor differences that would not be noticeable in terms of weight. There is so much different types of aluminium alloy, that none of them could come close to tubes after casting process?

It would snap.

Weren't the old Kirk frames cast in a magnesium alloy?

interesting article, with even more interesting links http://cozybeehive.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/8-second-bicycle.html