In the die casting process,
molten metal is poured into a mould that is designed in the shape of end
product. The molten metal is injected at very high pressure into the mould, so
it takes up the shape of the mould. This die casting process is efficient and
economical as it saves time, effort and also decreases wastage at the same
time. Different metals such as zinc, tin, magnesium and aluminium as well as
their alloys are used in the die casting process.
There are small steps that you
can take to further reduce aluminium die
casting process expenses. The entire production process can be made less
costly by making subtle changes in the die
casting design.
Reduce the Weight
When you reduce the volume of
components required for die casting, you can proportionately decrease the
weight and cost of die casting. If you pour more metal into the cast, then it
will take more time to set and cool, which will eat up into your production
time. So, you can go for slight alterations in the die casting design like designing pockets to make thinner cross
sections or use ribs to strengthen the cast product. Care should be taken while
designing the location of the pockets because the wrong positioning of the pockets
can affect the product’s accuracy and strength.
Parting Lines and Ejector Pins
While designing the aluminium die castings, careful
consideration should be given to the parting lines and ejector pins. The
parting line should preferably be straight or flat, so removal becomes easy.
Ejector pins are used to remove the cast products from the mould. If the pins
are neatly designed, then they will not leave any marks on the cast when it is
removed from the mould. So, you finished product will not have any unnecessary
marks and scratches which could then require another finishing touch.
Radii and Fillets
While creating the Die Casting Design,
care should be taken to avoid sharp corners. If there are less sharp corners in
the Aluminium Die Castings,
the finished product will be stronger and have a cleaner finish. Also, there
should not be quick ups and downs in the cross section, which will lead to
erratic flow of molten metal in the cast, and finally lead to an irregular
finish.
There are lots of the other
techniques that can be used while designing the cast. These techniques will not
only ensure product strength, but also reduce production time and decrease
manufacturing costs.
The biggest impact to your manufacturing costs is usually not the process but the capital cost of the machinery.
ReplyDeleteFor example, we provide used die casting machines and other industrial automation equipment to casters across the world. Instead of spending $100,000 US to $250,000 US on machines, they can get machines for $10,000 to $50,000 US.
That is a huge cost savings before even making your first cast. We always strongly recommend that all die casters look to used machinery first to fit their needs.
Dave Ward
Beta Die Casting Equipment
www.betadiecasting.com