Die casting is a metal casting process, which is characterized by the use of mold cavity to apply high pressure to the molten metal. The mold is usually made of a stronger alloy, and the process is somewhat similar to injection molding. Most die-casting castings are iron-free, such as zinc, copper, aluminum, magnesium, lead, tin and lead-tin alloys and their alloys. Depending on the type of die casting, a cold chamber die casting machine or a hot chamber die casting machine is required.
The cost of casting equipment and molds is high, so the die-casting process is generally only used to mass-produce a large number of products. It is relatively easy to manufacture die-cast parts, which generally only requires four main steps, and the individual cost increment is very low. Die casting is particularly suitable for manufacturing a large number of small and medium-sized castings, so die casting is the most widely used in various casting processes. Compared with other casting technologies, the surface of die-casting is smoother and has a higher dimensional consistency.
Based on the traditional die-casting process, several improved processes were born, including a non-porous die-casting process that reduces casting defects and eliminates pores. It is mainly used for processing zinc, which can reduce waste and increase the yield of direct injection process. There is also a new type of die-casting process such as precision speed dense die-casting technology invented by General Dynamics and semi-solid die-casting.