Die casting is a technique for mass production of metal products and components. Mold design is one of the most important steps in this process, as the shape and properties of the mold will directly affect the final product. The die casting process uses high pressure to push molten metal into a mold, and it requires a mold with precise specifications to get the job done.

The importance of mold design

Mold design affects the shape, configuration, quality, and uniformity of products created through die casting procedures. Incorrect specifications can lead to corrosion of tools or materials, as well as reduced product quality, while effective design can improve efficiency and production time.

Factors affecting the quality of mold design There are many mold design factors that need to be considered when determining the appropriate specifications for a project. Some of these factors include:

• Die

• Fillet

• Parting line

• Boss

• Ribs

• Holes and Windows

• Symbol

• Wall thickness

draft

Drawing die is the taper of the die core. A precise release slope is required to push the casting smoothly out of the mold, but since the release slope is not constant and can vary depending on characteristics such as the Angle of the wall, the type of molten alloy used, the shape of the wall and the depth of the mold, the process can be affected. The mold geometry also affects the drawing. Usually, untapped holes need to be tapered gradually due to the risk of shrinkage. Similarly, the inner wall will also contract and therefore require more draft than the outer wall.

fillet

Rounded corners are concave connections used to smooth slanted surfaces. Sharp corners can hinder the casting process, so many molds have rounded corners to create rounded corners and reduce the risk of production errors. In addition to parting lines, rounded corners can be added almost anywhere in the mold.

Joint line

Parting lines or parting surfaces connect the different parts of the mold together. If the parting line is not positioned accurately or deformed due to working strain, the material may seep from the gap between the die parts, resulting in uneven molding and excessive joints.

Boss

A boss is a die-cast knob used as a mounting point or support in a mold design. Manufacturers usually add a hole to the internal structure of the boss to ensure a uniform wall thickness of the molded product. Metal is often difficult to fill deep bosses, so rounded corners and ribs may be needed to alleviate this problem.

Fried Spare Ribs

Die cast ribs can be used to increase the material strength of products that lack the wall thickness required for some applications. Selective rib placement reduces the chance of stress cracking and uneven thickness. It also helps to reduce product weight and increase filling capacity.

Hole and window

The inclusion of holes or Windows in the die casting mold directly affects the release difficulty of the completed molding and can produce a large number of draws. Additional features such as overflow, flashover, and cross feeders may be required to prevent unwanted pouring in the hole or poor material flow around the hole.

symbol

Manufacturers often include a brand name or product logo in the mold design of die casting products. While symbols do not usually complicate the die casting process, their use can affect production costs. In particular, raised signs or symbols are required to provide an additional amount of molten metal for each manufactured part. In contrast, embedded symbols require less raw materials and can reduce costs.