Articles | Automobile Die Cast Parts

Strength and durability - These are the most important requirements for automobile parts. Nowadays, the industry has a strong demand for die castings used for motor vehicle parts. Die casting is a metal working procedure that performs efficiently on large-scale productions. If we will compare it with other processes like sand castings, die castings produce automobile parts with higher yield strength (breaking point). It is used to produce both mechanical and fixed parts of automobiles

To better understand the advantages of die cast parts, one must know the simple processes behind it. First, the metal is melted in a furnace separate from the die fixture. Then, it will be injected into the dies. A pair of dies forms the mold cavity, which contains the intended shape of the part. This is known as cold-chamber processing, which is popular in producing die castings used for car parts. As the metal solidifies, the dies are intensely compressed. The pressure results in very well-built castings.

Die Casting molds and tools for automobile die casting are very expensive, reaching hundred thousands of dollars. The large capital makes the process suitable only for large-scale manufacturing lines. However, it is a good investment because it minimizes human intervention for die castings used for car parts. Die-casted products are precise in depth, size and shape. This is perfect for fixtures, frames, sprockets and engine blocks of automobiles. The process produces little or no scrap and deformities. Therefore, there is no need for post-machinists to perform trimming or sanding. If there are metal scraps, they can easily be recycled.

Many motor vehicle parts companies are now using die casting. It is a metal-working procedure which is made for large scale productions. Automobile die cast parts are known for ease in production and performance against multi-directional stresses. These parts are used as fixed parts like the vehicle frame and engine fixtures. They are also made for mechanical parts like gears, engines and chains.

Die Casting and its variants always compact molten or semi-molten metals. Hence, pressure and temperature are always essential factors. As for automobile die cast parts, they are usually created through cold chamber die casting. The type of casting depends on the type of metal. The bulk of metal products in the automotive industry utilize aluminum and magnesium. Cold chamber method is the one appropriate for such high-melting point metals.

The process of making die castings, like automobile parts, is simple. The metal is melted in a separate furnace. As it is cooling down, it will be transported to the dies, which contain the target design. Depending on the strength specifications and type of metal, pressures between 10 to 175 mPa will be continued until the metal solidifies. This can produce a wide range of shapes from the simple to the intricate: rods, bars, billets, planes and fixtures. They require little or no post machining because die casting results in precise shapes and thickness.

Car die cast parts include engine blocks and some gears, which are mostly made of aluminum and magnesium casts. The combination of these two metals is very hard, even when subjected to repeated load and high temperatures.