WHAT IS DIE CASTING?
Many modern products, such as metal enclosures, faucet parts, pistons, knobs, filter housings, and microwave components, are created with die casting processes. Though die casting is typically selected for high-volume production, due to the fact that the cost of creating dies for individual parts is relatively high, A&B Die Casting is one of the few companies that has reinvented this process to provide cost-effective solutions for small to medium production runs.
Die castings are produced by injecting molten alloys into custom-made reusable steel cavities known as dies. Most dies are made with hardened tool steel machined into the net or near net shape die cast parts. The alloy solidifies within the die to produce the desired component allowing for superior accuracy and repeatability. Some of the most popular die cast alloys are Aluminum, Zinc, Magnesium, Brass, and Copper. The strength of these materials creates a finished product with the rigidity and feel of metal and the high performance of expensive plastic and advanced composites. Fine details such as textured surfaces, names, or logos are easily produced without costly post-processing.
WHAT IS THE DIE CASTING PROCESS?
The die casting process is a cost-effective production method consisting of injecting molten metal under high pressure into a steel mold called a die. Die casting machines are typically rated by the clamping pressure they can exert on the die. At A&B Die Casting, our advanced facility offers machine sizes ranging from 200 to 900 tons.
Regardless of their type, the only fundamental differences in die casting machines are the methods used to inject molten metal into a die. Hot chamber machines are used for alloys with low melting temperatures, such as zinc. Cold chamber machines are used for alloys with high melting temperatures, such as aluminum.
A complete die casting cycle can vary from less than a second for small components weighing less than an ounce to three minutes for casting several pounds making die casting the fastest and most economical technique available for producing precise non-ferrous net-shape components.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DIE CASTING?
Uncompromising Quality in Precision Die Casting
As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, A&B Die Casting sets our vision beyond the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) standards in achieving the highest possible quality for your parts. We are also National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) members to stay up-to-date on all new machine training and technology. Our alliance with the California Metals Coalition (CMC) informs us of current issues affecting the California Metalworking Industry.
Precision Die Casting Solutions for Your Toughest Challenges
The A&B Die Casting process results in castings with extremely tight tolerances and negligible draft angles while eliminating the need for finish machining operations. Our propriety processes allow us to bridge the gap between the high cost of low-volume machined parts and the economic value of high-volume castings to provide our customers with the benefit of our creative, cost-effective delivery models.