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Aluminum Die Casting - An In-Depth Look at This Metal Forming Process
Aluminum die casting is a popular metal forming process used to make precision metal parts and products. It involves forcing molten aluminum alloy into steel molds under high pressure. Once cooled and solidified, the castings are removed from the molds to reveal near net-shape metal components that require little finishing or machining.
Die casting produces accurate, repeatable castings with excellent surface finishes. It also allows for the economical production of complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible with other processes. This makes aluminum die casting ideal for high-volume production runs of metal parts and products.
How Does Aluminum Die Casting Work?
Aluminum die casting utilizes steel molds called dies that have been machined into the shape of the desired part. The dies consist of two halves - the cover die and ejector die. They are mounted in large mechanical or hydraulic presses that clamp the dies together and provide the pressure required.
To begin the process, the desired alloy of aluminum is melted down and maintained at an optimal temperature of around 1,150 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit. The liquid aluminum is then forced into the die under immense pressure that can range from 5,000 to over 40,000 psi depending on the size of the part being cast.
As the aluminum enters the die, it takes on the shape of the mold cavity. Heat from the molten metal is rapidly transferred to the cooler steel dies, causing the aluminum to solidify from the outside in. Once fully solidified, the die opens and the casting is automatically or manually ejected.
The entire sequence is computer-controlled and can be completed in less than one minute for small castings. This allows for very high production rates and repeated precision. Secondary finishing operations like trimming, grinding, or drilling may be required to clean up any flash that results from seepage between die halves. The final castings can have exceptional tolerance levels of ±.002 inches if required.
Benefits of Aluminum Die Casting
There are many benefits that make die casting the most widely used metal casting process today.
- Excellent dimensional accuracy and repeatability. Parts can be produced identically time after time.
- Smooth cast surfaces with no parting lines. This reduces the need for secondary machining.
- Ability to produce complex shapes, internal undercuts, and hollow parts.
- Fast production rates make die casting ideal for high-volume production.
- Various aluminum alloys available including 383, 360, 413, 518, 380 and more. Each has unique properties.
- High integrity and soundness of the castings thanks to the fast cooling. Porosity is minimized.
- Superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to steel and iron castings.
- Less scrap and wasted raw material compared to sand and permanent mold casting.
Applications of Aluminum Die Cast Parts
Aluminum die casting is used across a diverse range of industries to produce high quality metal components utilizing aluminum’s lightweight properties, strength, and corrosion resistance. Typical applications include:
- Automotive - Engine and suspension parts like manifolds, pistons, valves, housings, brackets, wheels.
- Aerospace - Aircraft fittings, hydraulic manifolds, flight control components.
- Defense - Armored vehicle parts, ordinance housings, helmet shells.
- Electronics - Shielding, sockets, spacers, enclosures, heat sinks.
- Appliances - Housings, mounts, handles, fittings, shrouds.
- Hardware - Locks, tools, gears, fasteners, fixtures, rollers.
- Telecommunications - Base station and telephone components.
- Medical - Dental tools, prosthetics, instrument housings.
- Consumer goods - Power tool housings, sporting equipment, camera bodies.
With its unique combination of excellent mechanical properties, tight tolerances, fast production rates, and ability to make complex shapes, aluminum die casting will continue growing as an indispensable manufacturing process across numerous industries.
Major Aluminum Die Casting Companies
There are many leading aluminum die casting companies serving North America that provide full-service casting capabilities. Here are a few of the largest and most technologically-advanced:
- Alcast Company - Offering aluminum die casting in all common alloys, Alcast makes a variety of parts for the telecommunications, defense, and electronics industries at their plant in Ohio.
- Alcoa Howmet - Part of the Alcoa group of companies, Alcoa Howmet is an innovative aluminum die caster making precision engineered castings for aerospace, automotive, and commercial applications.
- Gibbs Die Casting - With roots going back to 1953, Gibbs has grown into one of the biggest die casters in the USA producing aluminum components from two large facilities in Indiana.
- Lakeshore Die Cast - A family-owned business since 1960, Lakeshore utilizes the latest manufacturing advancements to serve appliance, medical, automotive, and other markets from their factory in Michigan.
- Leeden National - Providing aluminum and zinc die casting and finishing services from plants in Mexico and Arizona, Leeden makes parts for computer, aerospace, defense, electronics, and other sectors.
- Meridian Lightweight Technologies - One of the leading die casters in North America, Meridian runs 33 cold chamber aluminum die casting machines at production facilities in Michigan and Georgia.
- Rockford Die Cast - Utilizing fully automated horizontal cold chamber die casting cells, Rockford provides aluminum die cast parts to many Fortune 500 companies from their plant in Illinois.
- Ryobi Die Casting - With 700 die casting machines in the USA and overseas, Ryobi Die Casting uses leading edge automation and processes to produce high quality aluminum die castings across many markets.
- Walbro - Specializing in precision aluminum die castings for fuel delivery components, Walbro is a major automotive tier 1 supplier operating large capacity die casting operations in Wisconsin.
These industry-leading die casters have the expertise and capabilities to deliver high-precision, repeatable aluminum die cast parts and products. Their investments in the latest manufacturing technologies and focus on quality allows them to better serve customers across diverse markets that demand tightly toleranced aluminum castings.
The Future of Aluminum Die Casting
Aluminum die casting has already established itself as an indispensable metal forming process used across many critical industries. But there are exciting developments that will open up new applications and make the process even more efficient and productive going forward.
- Additive manufacturing enhancements will allow for greater design freedom and part optimization. Conformal cooling channels can be 3D printed into dies, improving cycle times.
- Advanced alloys with superior strength, heat resistance, and other properties will expand capabilities for die casting.
- Increased automation and internet-connected systems will boost quality control while allowing for more efficient production.
- Computer simulation and analysis will result in faster die design and reduced lead times.
- Advanced platinum-free lubricants will allow more environmentally-friendly high-speed die casting.
Aluminum die casting is already an essential component of modern manufacturing. As technology advancements unlock new potentials for the process, aluminum die cast parts and products will become even more ubiquitous across industries demanding the quality, precision, and value die casting provides. CNC Milling