High pressure die-casting is the process that involves the use of pressure to force molten metal into a sealed mold cavity. The mold is held in its place by using a powerful compressive power until the metal is set. After it solidifies, the mold will be opened and the part is released. It is a robust process and its applications are varied.
In this article, we will discuss in-depth the merits of using high-pressure die-casting as well as its drawbacks.
The High-Pressure Die Casting Process
The introduction we made for high-pressure die casting may look simple and it is. It provides the simplest route to produce a completed component from molten metal by injecting the molten material into the steel mold and waiting for it to solidify under high pressure before ejection. After the removal of the part, the mold is resealed and will be ready for another cycle.
The process is very fast and takes only a fraction of a second for the molten steel to get injected into the mold. Once the cavity is filled, the high pressure will do the work in a process called intensification.
This pressure will remove any trapped gases inside the mold and feed more metal into the mold to compensate for any shrinkage while it is solidifying. Aside from this traditional molding process, there are additional variations to the process including, vacuum die-casting, squeeze casting, and semi-solid casting.
Benefits from Using High-Pressure Die Casting
There are many advantages to using high-pressure die casting. It includes faster lead time as compared to the traditional method of flow pouring. It can also produce specific dimensions that would cut down the processing. Most of the parts produced from this technique have a good surface finish and are readily available for plating. It can also reduce the thickness of the plate walls, which in turn reduces the overall weight of the product.
The molds used in high-pressure die casting are extremely durable. It reduces the cost of production because more parts can be produced with a single mold, reducing the frequency of replacing them.
Here is a summary of its benefits:
- Faster production timelines – High pressure die casting is a high-speed production process. It can also produce complex shapes with tight tolerances so that means, the finished parts require no further machining. The process can also make thousands of the same parts with the need for additional tooling.
- Accuracy and stability – The parts produced from die casting are dimensionally stable and durable. They are also heat resistant.
- Strength and Weight – Die casting parts are stronger than those produced through plastic injection molding. The walls are stronger and lighter too. It also does not have welded or joined parts and that strength is equally distributed in the alloy.
- Finished Surfaces – The high pressure die-casted parts have smooth surface textures and can easily be finished or plated with minimum preparation.
There you have the benefits of using the high-pressure die casting method as your manufacturing process. It is important to find a reliable partner for this technique to do the process right and have the perfect product for your requirements.