Importance Of Draft Angle
Die casting essentially is the process of injecting molten metal into the mold cavity at high pressures. The process can help create components of accurate dimensions thus making it suitable for mass-producing critical parts for use in different purposes. While casting aluminum, numerous techniques are utilized for producing huge quantities of finished products with the same precision and accuracy. This is important especially if the parts are meant for automobiles or industrial equipment.
Several aspects also play a dominant role in die casting and influence the quality of the finished products. These are mostly affected by the design of the mold cavity, which can certainly influence mechanical and aesthetic properties of the finished product. Among the various factors that aids in the production of uniform quality in large volumes of parts are the draft angle.
A major aspect of die casting, draft angle refers to angle or slope included on the walls of the die casting mold. It can widen the opening of the die cavity compared to the base. Improper draft angle can result in the die casting parts to attach to the walls of the die cavity. If the molds are perpendicular to the ejection, it can result in damages to both the product and the mold.
It is important to carve out a small angle for the surfaces since extra costs can incur for the production of another mold. The high-pressure injection in die casting can cause the molten metal to exert pressure on the surface wall of the mold. This can result in the molten metal to adhere to any cavities on the mold surface, which prevent the normal delivery of the casted part from the mold after it is cooled.
While the casted parts are cooling, there is also the possibility that the parts can shrink in the direction of the core. Thus, it is crucial to use fillets to protect the interiors of the mold from the high pressure of the castings. A critical factor that can vary the draft angle is the nature of the surface, its depth, and the type of alloy used in the casting.
Having a well-specified draft angle is thereby important in order to ensure that the die castings are ejected smoothly from the molds. In most die casting companies, there will be persons specialized for ensuring such critical dimensional features. Failing to implement a proper die casting draft angle can cause the casted part to be different both dimensionally and aesthetically than what the client required.