Die casting is one of the most flexible and innovative manufacturing techniques for fabricating metal parts. Several components for gears, locks, automobiles and motorcycle parts are manufactured with die casting. If you choose die casting process for your applications, it’s best to know its pros and cons beforehand.
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In this article, you will learn in detail about die casting advantages and disadvantages. Also, we’d compare it to some other common manufacturing techniques to help you make the best choice.
Die casting is a manufacturing process involving molten metals and alloys into a steel mold under extreme temperature and pressure conditions to create the desired shape. The die casting process is quite similar to that of plastic injection molding. However, it is mainly used for uses non-ferrous metals with low melting points and high fluidity, such as aluminum, zinc, copper, magnesium, etc.
There are of two types machines for die casting, the hot and cold chamber die casting machine.
A hot chamber cast machine features a built-in furnace that heats metal into a molten state before transferring it into molds for shaping, which can accelerate cycling production. In contrast, in cold chamber machine, heating metals takes place in a separate furnace.
Hot chamber machine casts metal alloys with low melting points like zinc, copper and lead. On the other hand, the cold chamber machine is preferred for high melting temperature metals and corrosion resistance. Therefore, the material you choose for the process determines which machine to use.
After a brief understanding of the die casting process, let’s dive into its advantages and disadvantages. However, we first make a simple summary shown below.
Aluminun die casting can manufacture complex-shaped and light components but with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, giving it an edge over other metal molding castings and investment castings. Die casting parts with aluminum alloys can have a thickness as low as 0.5mm; the wall thickness of cast parts made with zinc can even be as low as 0.3mm.
Die casting products feature excellent mechanical properties. As the liquid metal solidifies under high pressure, the product appears to be fine, compact, and crystalline. Die casting parts are rigid with high hardness and strength. Also, they have improved durability and high conductivity.
Die casting produces parts with high durability and dimensional accuracy. Even when exposed to harsh conditions, the parts maintain their dimensional accuracy over time. As a result, die casting is used in fabricating complex and internal parts of machines that require high standards of precision and accuracy.
Die casting maintains tighter tolerances over other casting processes. That is, parts are produced with minimal variations. The typical tolerance class of die castings is IT13~IT15 in GB/T -. Higher precision can reach IT10~W 11. Therefore, the excellent dimensional accuracy of die casting avoids the need for machining and improves the utilization of the alloy.
Die casting parts have a smooth, consistent crystalline surface. Die casting process alloys molten metal alloy to fill up the dies and create the exact shape. Therefore, provided the die is well shaped and the process is in the right condition, the parts will be fine and smooth.
Because of making glossy parts, there is less need to proceed with additional post-processing operations, except for custom needs. What’s more, after die casting is done, products can be shipped off for delivery. This can reduce the total cycle production time.
Since the surface of die castings is often smooth with excellent mechanical features, die-cast parts often require less machining. In some cases, no machining at all. As a result, there is less need to spend on secondary operations. The ability of die casting to reduce post-processing costs helps ensure its cost-effectiveness.
Notably, die casting machines, molds, and other related types of equipment are quite expensive. However, mass production aids in better distribution of cost through the production process, thereby making the die casting process economical.
In the die casting process, molten metal rapidly fills the mold cavity at high speed, but the cavities lack gas permeability. Hence, gas bubbles that affect the structural integrity of fabricated parts tend to get trapped within castings.
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The presence of gas cavities in die castings would affect such parts when exposed to harsh conditions, such as hardening by heat treatment. Additionally, such parts are predisposed to machining difficulties. Therefore, the machining allowance of the parts should be kept minimal. If not, the hardened layer on die casting surfaces would be removed, thereby exposing the surface.
Generally, die casting is perfect for non-ferrous metals with lower melting points than ferrous metal alloys. However, the process supports ferrous alloys like iron and steel. Ferrous metals have very high melting points and low corrosion resistance, which causes low die life. Therefore, manufacturers always choose non-ferrous metal alloys for die casting.
Moreover, casting ferrous metals come with lots of complexity and several unforeseen complications. Consequently, manufacturers stick to non-ferrous metals only for die casting operations.
Die casting is not a practical choice for low volume production, because the tooling cost of die casting machines and maintenance are quite expensive. Therefore, the process is costly and seems complex for small-scale production.
However, large-scale production becomes cost-effective as costs are well distributed over the many items produced. Suppliers don’t recommend die casting services for low-scale projects, as the process appears to be more expensive than other production methods.
High melting point metals and alloys compromise the effectiveness of steel dies. These metals, like copper, have extensive requirements to resist thermal deformation. The continued presence of alloys with high melting points strains the molding die, thereby reducing its durability.
Unlike other casting processes, the casting machine, the dies, and other related equipment for die casting are costly. Without the essential equipment, it is impossible to carry out die casting. Although cheap materials like zinc are used to cut costs, the overall production process is still expensive. The only time die casting becomes cost-effective is in large volume production.
We have discussed die casting pros and cons. Then, let’s compare die casting with other common manufacturing techniques, indicating why it is an important manufacturing process in industries.
Making comparisons between die casting and sand casting, die casting proves to be a superior manufacturing process. The following are criteria where die casting proves to be a better technique than sand casting.
Compared to plastic injection molding, die casting also seems to have an edge. Below are die casting advantages over injection molding.
Forging involves shaping metal under extreme compressive force. However, die casting proves superior to forging in the following:
From this article, you probably now have a vast knowledge of die casting pros and cons. You know die casting is a top manufacturing process for high volume production and high dimensional accuracy parts.
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