Pressure Die Casting Aluminum Automotive Parts vs. Gravity Casting. Due to concerns regarding the harmful effects of fuel emissions on the environment, the automobile industry has been looking for ways to cut down fuel consumption thereby lessening fuel emissions. An effective way to reduce fuel consumption is to decrease car weight. Currently, lighter materials, such as plastic and aluminum, are being experimented with and used in the production of automotive parts. Aluminum in particular has several advantages. It is lightweight yet strong and durable. Additionally, using aluminum parts lessens the possibility for a car to overheat since aluminum is a very effective diffuser of heat.
Pressure die casting and gravity casting (also known as permanent mold process) are the most common methods used in the production of aluminum automotive parts. Both pressure die casting and gravity casting involve the liquefying of aluminum by subjecting it to intense heat and the use of molds. However, the similarities end there as pressure die casting and gravity casting make use of different kinds of molds as well as different ways of placing the liquefied metal into the molds. Pressure die casting uses hardened steel molds or dies, while cast iron molds covered with a ceramic mold wash are used in gravity casting. Pressure die casting makes use of pressure to inject the liquid metal into the mold, while in the gravity die casting process, the liquid metal is poured under gravity into the mold. Additionally, the resulting castings differ for both methods as castings made using gravity die casting are of medium size and have medium complexity and thickness, while castings resulting from pressure die casting can be small to medium with varying complexity and thin walls. When it comes to cost and labor, the die casting method is better as castings can be produced within closer dimensional limits and with smoother surfaces. The die casting method is also cheaper and produces castings at faster rates with less manual labor.
To get a price for aluminum die casting parts or die casting tooling, call toll free 800-524-8083 and ask for sales. Or email us at sales@kineticdc.com for a fast response on a price quote.
Kinetic Die Casting is located in Southern California. KDC specializes in aluminum and zinc die casting tooling. If you would like a quote, please visit our website:Kinetic Die Casting Company
