Die Cast Tooling Manufacturing Process

Die casting is a manufacturing process for producing metal parts by forcing molten metal under high pressure into a die cavity. Generally speaking, these die or mold cavities are created with hardened tool steel that has been previously machined to the net shape or near-net shape of the die-cast parts. This process allows products to be made with high degree of accuracy and repeatability. The die casting process also produces fine details such as textured surfaces or names without requiring further processing.

The ability to produce highly detailed and high accuracy parts make die casting a suitable choice for mass-produced product. The moment you wake up you have surrounded by-products that are produced by the die casting process. When you turn the faucet, you open the doorknob, when you drive your car, almost every product or part of the product you use in your daily life is produced using this process.

The die casting process usually produce parts using primarily non-ferrous metals, such as zinc, copper, aluminium and magnesium. Over the years, many different alloys have been developed to meet a certain type of needs and requirements of each application.

Die Casting Unit Die Tooling

Unit die tooling is usually larger than diecast tooling inserts and typically smaller than a complete mold. Unit die tooling uses less steel than a complete mold, but more steel than a die casting insert. Unit die tooling requires a master unit holder that sits in the die casting machine. Kinetic Die Casting has "master unitholders" in various sizes to accommodate different sized unit dies.

Unit dies will set into a die casting machine faster and more easily than any other form of tooling. Die casting part size and weight are the biggest limitations to whether a unit die tool is appropriate for your die cast part.

If you have unit die tooling, send it to us because we can produce aluminum die cast parts with your unit die tooling. Kinetic Die Casting has master holders in many sizes.

Die cast tooling refers to the molds and dies that are used in the process. Die cast tooling is also referred to as die cast dies, insert dies, or die cast moldings, and they are available in single cavities or multiple cavities. Single cavity tooling can be used to make only one part at a time, whereas multiple cavity tooling can be used to make more than one part per cycle.

The tooling costs can vary with the types of tooling. It can cost as little as a few hundred dollars when trim dies are used but can go to a few thousand dollars when cavity inserts are used. However, for large and complete die cast tool packages, the costs can go up to a few thousand dollars.

Die Casting Tooling Inserts

Tooling inserts are the cheapest form of diecast tooling. These high-pressure tooling inserts are made from steel to offer cavities and little extra space to accommodate the differences in temperature of the molten metal that is injected into the die under pressure. This type of tooling inserts needs heat treatment to ensure proper hardness and tooling life.