Die cast tooling is also called as casting dies, die cast molds, or insert die, and it comes in a variety of sizes, values, and styles. Tooling is available in single cavities or multiple cavities. In single cavities, one part is manufactured per cycle, whereas more than one part is made per cycle in multiple cavities. Tooling costs can vary from a few hundred dollars for the trim dies, to a few thousand dollars for the cavity inserts, or thousands of dollars for bigger parts.
Die Casting Tooling Inserts
Die casters will have many mold bases for insert tools or die casting mold bases, which can be used to mount die casting inserts to manufacture parts. Tooling inserts are the least expensive type of die cast tooling. High pressure die cast tooling inserts are nothing but enough steel to make the cavities and some extra space to accommodate temperature fluctuations of the molten metal that is injected under pressure.
Die cast tooling inserts need heat treating to the necessary hardness to ensure extended life of the tooling. If the inserts are very hard, chances are that they will fail due to high temperature molten metal; if the inserts are very soft, they will damage and wear away too easily from the movement of the molten metal that is injected under force.
Some of the die casters may not use enough steel in their tooling die cast inserts, as they might not be following the American Die Casting Standards or due to lack of experience. Note that this will decrease the potential life of the die cast tooling inserts. However, many of the Mexican die casters understand the requirements to extend the life of mold tooling.
Die cast tooling inserts need to be mounted on some holder to allow metal to be injected into it. A pathway should be offered for the metal to go into the insert and for the gases to escape. These holders are referred to as mold base, unit die, or family die. Existing tooling inserts can be mounted on holders or mold bases to make aluminum die casting easy. Experienced die casting companies will have many mold bases, which is why it is beneficial to hire service of experienced die casters to meet all your casting needs.