Multi-Slide Hot-Chamber Die Casting Explained

 

The process of die casting is one of the most widely used production processes on the planet. It can make complex parts by using die cast molds, which can be used again and again. The process is quite simplistic, requiring only some metal, a furnace, the die and a die casting machine. The metal should be non ferrous and is often an alloy such as zinc or aluminum. The metal alloys are melted in the furnace. The dies are injected with the molten metal and are placed in the die casting machines. There are two main types of machines that are used in die casting, being hot chamber and cold chamber. Deciding which one works best for each process depends mainly on the melting temperature of the alloy that is used in the metal. The lower melting temperatures are used in hot chamber die casting machines.

 

How Do We Use Die Castings?

Regardless of the machine that is used, castings can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Housings used in the computer, automobile and communications industries are often die cast parts, which are used in a variety of ways. Many parts within the automotive industry are created through die casting methods, including cylinder heads, engine blocks and pistons. These are but a few of the examples of die castings that you use on a daily basis without even realizing it.

Multi-Slide Hot Chamber Die Casting

Multi-slide hot chamber die casting machines are used on alloys with low melting temperatures.Some examples include lead, tin and zinc. The pump is always in contact with the molten metal, which means it would get damaged if higher melting temperatures were required. Within the hot chamber, molten metal is placed within an open holding pot. This then goes into the furnace to melt the metal. Hydraulic pumps then push the molten metal into the die itself. The pressure within a multi-slide hot chamber die caster is between 1,000 and 5,000 psi, which is quite significant. The metal stays pressed in until it has cooled, after which the hydraulic pump releases the part, allowing it to be ejected. The two halves of a die have been clamped together up until this point. The two halves of the die are attached to platens, which are large plates that hold them in place. The cover die - the front part - is on a stationary platen and gets aligned. The ejector die - the back part - is attached to a flexible platen, that can slide into different positions. The cover die and the ejector die are held together through the hydraulic pumps and pistons at the right pressure until the molten metal has been injected and has cooled down. Because the ejector die and the cover die are released at the exact same time, the newly formed die casting is then ejected smoothly through the cavity that is then created. Interestingly, this system is pretty much the same in both hot and cold chamber die casting, the difference being mainly the melting temperature of the alloy and the use of multiple slides to create intricate and complex die cast parts.