Several businesses often ask die casters why they use aluminum for shaping metals into desired shapes. According to professional die casters, they follow this practice because there are plenty of advantages in using aluminum for die casting purposes. For instance, aluminum is highly durable, corrosion resistant, and lightweight, that make it an ideal choice for casting any desired product.
In addition to that, the capability of this specific metal to retain high dimensional stability in complex shapes and even within thin walls makes it a far better die casting choice than any other metals. Die casters in automotive industries also use aluminum as an alternative to iron and steel due to its excellent mechanical properties.
Moreover, the die or mold made by aluminum die casters is used repeatedly instead of destroying it at once. This enables die casters to make the most of the material and use it multiple times to shape metals into desired shapes. On the other hand, the mold or die used in other die casting processes are not suitable for multiple uses.
It is extremely important to realize the issues in the repair, replacement, and maintenance of aluminum molds during die casting. This is because it is impossible to predict the life of the final product, as it depends on a number of factors such as the design of the part, the configuration of the mold, heat treatment, the type of alloy used, etc. However, this doesn’t imply that the life of your die will be short.
Die casters efficiently evaluate the issues that might happen during aluminum die casting and put in extra efforts to counter them. This in turn significantly reduces the chance of issues or defects to the final die casting product. It is seen that Mexican die casters implement the use of several processes to extend the life of a die. In addition to that, they also follow certain heat treatment specifications and tool steel specifications suggested by the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) to yield better results.
Die casters also apply certain die coatings on the die after the heat treatment in order to prolong the life of the component or material. It is true that these coatings come at a cost but it is best not to exclude them, as you will have to compromise the life and quality of your finished product by doing so.