Die Casting China - What you Need to Know
Metal casting characterized by forcing molten metal into mold cavities under high pressure is called die casting. A hardened tool steel die is used to create the mold cavity, which is machined into shape and works similarly to an injection mold. Zinc, copper, aluminum, magnesium, lead, pewter, and tin-based alloys are commonly used in die castings. A hot-chamber or cold-chamber machine is used depending on the type of metal being cast.
This process is limited to high-volume production due to the high capital costs associated with casting equipment and metal dies. Die casting is a relatively simple process that involves only four main steps, which keeps the incremental cost of each part low. Die casting produces more castings than any other casting process because it is well suited to a large quantity of small- to medium-sized castings. The surface finish of a die casting is very good (by casting standards) as are its dimensions.
A die casting alloy can be made from zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper, lead, or tin, but ferrous die casting is rare. Specific die casting alloys include: zinc aluminum; aluminum to, e.g. The Aluminum Association (AA) standards: AA 380, AA 384, AA 386, AA 390; and magnesium AZ91D. Each alloy has its own advantages.
The easiest metal to cast; high ductility; high impact strength; easy plating; economical for small parts; promotes long die life.
Aluminum: lightweight; high dimensional stability for very complex shapes and thin walls; high corrosion resistance; high mechanical properties; excellent thermal and electrical conductivity; retains strength at moderately high temperatures.
A light alloy commonly die-cast from magnesium, it is the easiest metal to machine, has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and is the lightest metal to machine.
Copper has high hardness and corrosion resistance; excellent wear resistance; excellent dimensional stability; strength approaching that of steel.
An investment-cast steel alternative made of copper, zinc, and silicon, silicon tombac is a high-strength alloy composed of copper, zinc, and silicon.
The combination of lead and tin is extremely dense, highly dimensionally accurate, and corrosion resistant, which is why such alloys are not used in foodservice applications. Hand-set type is cast in type metal, an alloy of lead, tin and antimony, which is used in letterpress printing and hot foil blocking. In the days before industrialization, type was primarily cast in hand jerk moulds, but now they are mainly die cast. It was around 1900 that the slug casting machines were introduced, adding further automation to newspaper offices with dozens of machines.
A die casting machine may be either hot chamber or cold chamber. They are rated by how much clamping force they can apply. Typical ratings range between 400 and 4,000 st (2,500 and 25,400 kg).
Die casting in a hot chamber
The molten metal feeds the die in hot-chamber die casting machines, also known as gooseneck machines. The machine's piston is retracted at the beginning of its cycle, allowing molten metal to fill the gooseneck. In the die, the metal is forced out of the gooseneck by a pneumatic- or hydraulic-powered piston. This system is particularly convenient due to its fast cycle times (15 cycles a minute) and melting of the metal in the casting machine. The disadvantages of this system are that it is limited to use with low-melting point metals and aluminum cannot be used because it picks up some iron while in the molten pool. Since hot chamber machines are primarily used with zinc, tin, and lead alloys, they are best suited for those alloys.
Die casting in cold chambers
These are used when the casting alloy cannot be used in hot-chamber machines; these include aluminum, zinc alloys with a high proportion of aluminum, magnesium and copper. The process for these machines start with melting the metal in a separate furnace. Once in the cold-chamber machine, the metal is melted and fed into a cylinder that is not heated before being injected into the die by a hydraulic or mechanical piston. Due to the need to transfer molten metal from the furnace to the cold-chamber machine, this system has a slower cycle time. Get more info about CNC Machining.
The most important material properties for the dies are thermal shock resistance and softening at elevated temperature; other important properties include hardenability, machinability, heat checking resistance, weld ability, availability (especially for larger dies), and cost. Die longevity is directly linked to molten metal temperature and cycle time. Cast iron cannot withstand the high pressure involved in die casting, so dies are usually made from hardened tool steels. Since the dies are very expensive, the start-up costs are high. Dies made from higher alloy steels are required for casting metals at higher temperatures.