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Die casting is a manufacturing process that can produce geometrically complex metal parts through the use of reusable molds, called dies. The die casting process involves the use of a furnace, metal, die casting machine, and die. The metal, typically a non-ferrous alloy such as aluminum or zinc, is melted in the furnace and then injected into the dies in the die casting machine. There are two main types of die casting machines - hot chamber machines (used for alloys with low melting temperatures, such as zinc) and cold chamber machines (used for alloys with high melting temperatures, such as aluminum). The differences between these machines will be detailed in the sections on equipment and tooling. However, in both machines, after the molten metal is injected into the dies, it rapidly cools and solidifies into the final part, called the casting. The steps in this process are described in greater detail in the next section.
The castings that are created in this process can vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from a couple ounces to 100 pounds. One common application of die cast parts are housings - thin-walled enclosures, often requiring many ribs and bosses on the interior. Metal housings for a variety of appliances and equipment are often die cast. Several automobile components are also manufactured using die casting, including pistons, cylinder heads, and engine blocks. Other common die cast parts include propellers, gears, bushings, pumps, and valves.
Die casting is ideal for large order quantities and large-scale pieces because it delivers consistency and repeatability.
Aluminum die casting delivers ideal tolerance control and surface finish with high volume capacity. The quenching transfer time is less than 15 seconds, delivering consistently precise die cast parts.
The process cycle for die casting consists of five main stages, which are explained below. The total cycle time is very short, typically between 2 seconds and 1 minute.
The first step is the preparation and clamping of the two halves of the die. Each die half is first cleaned from the previous injection and then lubricated to facilitate the ejection of the next part. The lubrication time increases with part size, as well as the number of cavities and side-cores. Also, lubrication may not be required after each cycle, but after 2 or 3 cycles, depending upon the material. After lubrication, the two die halves, which are attached inside the die casting machine, are closed and securely clamped together. Sufficient force must be applied to the die to keep it securely closed while the metal is injected. The time required to close and clamp the die is dependent upon the machine - larger machines (those with greater clamping forces) will require more time. This time can be estimated from the dry cycle time of the machine.
The molten metal, which is maintained at a set temperature in the furnace, is next transferred into a chamber where it can be injected into the die. The method of transferring the molten metal is dependent upon the type of die casting machine, whether a hot chamber or cold chamber machine is being used. The difference in this equipment will be detailed in the next section. Once transferred, the molten metal is injected at high pressures into the die. Typical injection pressure ranges from 1,000 to 20,000 psi. This pressure holds the molten metal in the dies during solidification. The amount of metal that is injected into the die is referred to as the shot. The injection time is the time required for the molten metal to fill all of the channels and cavities in the die. This time is very short, typically less than 0.1 seconds, in order to prevent early solidification of any one part of the metal. The proper injection time can be determined by the thermodynamic properties of the material, as well as the wall thickness of the casting. A greater wall thickness will require a longer injection time. In the case where a cold chamber die casting machine is being used, the injection time must also include the time to manually ladle the molten metal into the shot chamber.
The molten metal that is injected into the die will begin to cool and solidify once it enters the die cavity. When the entire cavity is filled and the molten metal solidifies, the final shape of the casting is formed. The die can not be opened until the cooling time has elapsed and the casting is solidified. The cooling time can be estimated from several thermodynamic properties of the metal, the maximum wall thickness of the casting, and the complexity of the die. A greater wall thickness will require a longer cooling time. The geometric complexity of the die also requires a longer cooling time because the additional resistance to the flow of heat.
After the predetermined cooling time has passed, the die halves can be opened and an ejection mechanism can push the casting out of the die cavity. The time to open the die can be estimated from the dry cycle time of the machine and the ejection time is determined by the size of the casting's envelope and should include time for the casting to fall free of the die. The ejection mechanism must apply some force to eject the part because during cooling the part shrinks and adheres to the die. Once the casting is ejected, the die can be clamped shut for the next injection.
During cooling, the material in the channels of the die will solidify attached to the casting. This excess material, along with any flash that has occurred, must be trimmed from the casting either manually via cutting or sawing, or using a trimming press. The time required to trim the excess material can be estimated from the size of the casting's envelope. The scrap material that results from this trimming is either discarded or can be reused in the die casting process. Recycled material may need to be reconditioned to the proper chemical composition before it can be combined with non-recycled metal and reused in the die casting process.
More expensive machines
Higher operating costs
More material is wasted due to the presence of cookies, so there is more second grade material (return material)
A special feature of the hot chamber die casting machine is that the casting chamber is always in contact with the liquid alloy. The melt enters the casting chamber through a valve, where it is pressed by a piston at high speed into the closed die casting mold. The process is used for low melting point alloys, such as zinc, lead or tin.
The cold chamber die casting machine is designed in such a way that the casting unit is located outside the melt. To produce the part, the alloy is filled into the casting chamber and pressed into the die casting die through a channel. This process is suitable for materials with high melting points. These include, for example, aluminum and copper.
For many years, Zen Young Foundry has been providing customized metal casting services for various industries and project types.
Mining & Engineering Machinery Casting Parts
If you are looking for a solution that fits your custom metal Sand casting project, Zen Young can help you produce perfect metal parts through a reliable casting process. We always welcome special material and difficult parts and would like to help our comstomers utmost.
Zen Young have capabilities to produce Cast iron，Stainless steel，Copper and Aluminum parts from start to finish. Whether you have a design ready for casting, or you need a custom casting design, we can help
We work with our customers to design patterns and molding methods for each custom casting. Original castings or ready-to-use castings can be provided. Secondary finishing operations, including powder coating, are additional options. Contact us with any questions about the casting process and also for more information on how our casting services can meet your project requirements.
We are a global manufacturer of conventional and multi-slide die-cast precision parts. Our engineers provide design solutions for a variety of industries, including consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare and more. When our engineers are involved early in a project, they can help design tools and parts specifically for mass production. All of our customers gain insight and expertise during all phases of a project. Contact our engineering team to request a quote today.
