DIE CASTINGS

Alumunum, Brass, Magnesium & Zinc

CASTING SOURCE Div.- Your Solution to Global Sourcing

High Quality - Low Cost Castings in Aluminum, Brass, Magnesium & Zinc

DIE CASTING PROCESS

Die Castings are made by injecting or forcing melted metal into a harden metal mold, called a die. The advantage of die casting is that you can rapidly create thin wall complex shapes with high dimensional accuracy. The disadvantage is the limitation to low melting point alloys since high melting point alloys would damage the die. Once removed from the die, die castings normally require very little secondary operations, usually just the trimming of the flash, buffing, and plating. Die cast parts are generally between 1 and 20 Lbs (.45 - 9 Kgs)., but can be as large as 50 Lbs (22.73 Kgs). Good examples of die cast parts are door handles, hood ornaments, and lamp bases.

The other main methods of producing castings are Investment Castings and Sand Castings.

See Comparison Chart of Casting Methods.

Out Sourcing your Die Castings with high quality - low cost off shore suppliers can provide you with savings of 20% to 60%. That means improved margins and increased market share.

DIE CASTING PROCESS

Shrinkage Metal shrinks as it cools. Therefore, a casting is larger when it is hot than after it cools. When making a die, the diemaker has to make the die slightly larger than the finished casting.. The amount of shrinkage depends upon the type of metal being cast, and on the whether the mold will cool quickly ofr slowly. For small castings, the shrinkage rate is: Iron - 1/8" per foot Steel - 1/4" per foot Aluminum - 5/32" per foot Brass - 3/16" per foot

ADVANTAGES Complex Shapes Possible Thin Wall Section Possible High Production Rate High Dimensional Accuracy Minumim Surface Treatment Prior to Plating
DISADVANTAGES Castings Limited to 20 Lbs or Less Void & Porosity Possible in Complex Shapes Expensive machinery & Dies Limited to Metals with Low Melting Points (normally aluminum & cooper based alloys)

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CASTING SOURCE DIV.

Global Out Sourcing of Die Castings, Investment Castings & Sand Castings

Aluminum, Brass, Magnesium & Zinc