How Does High Pressure Casting Work?

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Gloria

Published
Jan 22 2025
  • High Pressure Casting

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High pressure casting is popular in the manufacturing industrybecause it can quickly produce parts with consistent dimensions and high precision in large quantities. It can produce complex shapes with intricate details and thin walls, and the castings usually have a smooth surface when they are removed from the mold. It can handle tight tolerances and produces much less scrap than other similar methods. It is compatible with a variety of non-ferrous metals and is cost-effective when produced in large quantities. This article will take a deep dive intohow high pressure casting works, from its core steps to its significant advantages, and fully reveal the inner charm of this advanced process.

What is High Pressure Casting?

High pressure casting is an advanced metal forming processthat uses high pressure to inject molten or semi-molten metal into a precision-designed mold cavity and rapidly cools and solidifies under pressure to create high-precision, Metal parts with high density and good surface finish. This process is usually completed in a dedicateddie-casting machinethat can precisely control the injection speed, pressure and temperature of the molten metal to ensure that the quality and performance of the final product meet the design requirements.

How Does High Pressure Casting Work?

Theworking principle of high pressure castingis to use high pressure to make liquid or semi-liquid metal fill the die casting cavity at a higher speed, and solidify the casting under a certain pressure. The following are the detailed steps of high pressure casting:

  • Preparation stage:select appropriate metal alloys, perform proportioning and pretreatment to ensure material quality. At the same time,high-precision moldsare designed and manufactured according to product requirements.
  • Heating and melting:Put the metal alloy into the heating equipment, heat it to a completely molten state, and control the temperature and composition of the melt.
  • Mold preheating and preparation:Preheat the mold to reduce the temperature difference between the molten metal and the mold and prevent mold damage caused by thermal stress. Also, check the integrity of the mold to make sure there are no damaged or blocked gates and vents.
  • Pressure injection:Under high pressure,molten metal is quickly injected into the mold cavity. This process requires precise control of injection speed, pressure and temperature to ensure that the molten metal can fill the mold evenly and quickly and form a good casting.
  • Cooling and solidification:The molten metal cools and solidifies in the mold. Depending on the type andthickness of the metal, the appropriate cooling method and time are selected to ensure that the casting achieves the required mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy.
  • Mold opening and parts removal:After the casting is completely cooled, open the mold and carefully remove the casting. This process requires avoiding damage to the casting, while checking the status of the mold and preparing for the next casting.
  • Post-processing:Perform subsequent processing on castings as needed, such as deburring, heat treatment orsurface treatment, etc., to improve the quality and performance of castings.

What Materials Are Used in High Pressure Casting?

High pressure casting, as an advanced metal forming process, is widely used in industries such asautomobiles, aerospace, electronics and consumer goods.It is favored for its ability to produce high-precision, high-strength and complex metal parts. When selecting high pressure casting materials, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as the specific requirements of the product, the physical and chemical properties of the material, and the production cost. Thematerials commonly used in the high pressure casting processare:

1.Aluminum alloy:

  • Light weight:The low density of aluminum alloy allows the parts made of it to greatly reduce the weight while maintaining strength, which is especially important for applications that need to reduce the overall weight (such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing).
  • Corrosion resistance:Aluminum alloy has good corrosion resistance, can maintain its performance and appearance in a variety of environments, and extend the service life of the product.
  • Wide applicability:Aluminum alloy is easy to process and has good weldability and plasticity, suitable for manufacturing various complex shapes of parts.
  • Cost considerations:Although the price of aluminum alloy is relatively high, its excellent performance and wide range of applications make it the preferred material in many cases.

2.Magnesium alloy:

  • Lightweight:Magnesium alloy is one of the lightest known metal structural materials. Its density is much lower than that of aluminum alloy, which is very attractive for applications that pursue extreme lightweight (such as portable electronic devices and high-performance automobiles).
  • Shock absorption performance:Magnesium alloy has good shock absorption performance, which can effectively absorb vibration and shock, and improve the stability and reliability of products.
  • Processability:Magnesium alloy performs well in high pressure casting and can easily form complex shapes while maintaining high precision.
  • Cost and environment:The production cost of magnesium alloy is relatively high, and the recycling and disposal process may have an impact on the environment, so these factors need to be weighed when selecting.

3.Zinc alloy:

  • Durable and economical:Zinc alloy has good strength and corrosion resistance, while relatively low cost, making it advantageous in manufacturing complex and economical parts.
  • Casting performance:Zinc alloy has good fluidity in high-pressure casting, is easy to fill the mold, and is suitable for producing parts with complex shapes and uniform wall thickness.
  • Surface treatment:Zinc alloy is easy to carry out various surface treatments (such as electroplating, spraying, etc.) to improve the aesthetics and corrosion resistance of the parts.
  • Application limitations:Although zinc alloy has many advantages, its strength and corrosion resistance may not be as good as aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy, so it may not be suitable for some applications with high performance requirements.

What Are the Advantages of High Pressure Casting?

Theadvantages and disadvantages of high pressure castingare as follows:

Advantages Disadvantages
High production efficiency:High pressure casting can quickly fill the mold, shorten the production cycle, and improve production efficiency. Large equipment investment:High pressure casting equipment is complex and expensive, which increases the initial investment cost of the enterprise.
High casting precision:The molten metal solidifies under high pressure, the casting size is stable, the surface finish is high, and the need for subsequent processing is reduced. Complex mold manufacturing:High pressure casting has high requirements for molds, and the mold manufacturing cycle is long and the cost is high.
Good product density:High pressure casting can reduce defects such as pores and shrinkage in castings, and improve the density and mechanical properties of products. Not suitable for small-batch production:Due to the high production efficiency of high pressure casting, it may not be able to fully utilize its advantages for small-batch production, but instead increase production costs.
Can produce castings with complex shapes:High pressure casting technology is suitable for the production of castings with complex shapes and high precision requirements to meet diverse design needs. Restrictions on materials:High pressure casting is mainly suitable for non-ferrous alloys such as aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and zinc alloys, and has limited application in ferrous metals such as cast iron and cast steel.
Long mold life:Due to the stable filling of high pressure casting, the erosion and wear of the mold by the molten metal are reduced, and the service life of the mold is extended. High operating and maintenance costs:High pressure casting equipment requires professional operators and maintenance personnel, which increases the operating costs of the enterprise.

Where is High Pressure Casting Used?

The high quality of products produced by high pressure casting has made it a production partner for a wide range of industries. The speed and quantity of parts that can be produced make high pressure casting an ideal choice for manufacturing parts or components of any size. High pressure casting has been around for many years and is used to produce parts with tight tolerances. In recent years, the ways in which high pressure casting is used have continued to diversify as people have discovered new and innovative ways to incorporate it into the production of various applications.

  1. Automotive industry:High pressure casting is widely used in the automotive industry to manufacture large body structural parts such as engine and transmission housings, oil pans, door frames, A-pillars, rear longitudinal frames, trunk lids, and various small parts. These castings are lightweight and high-strength, which helps improve the performance and fuel efficiency of the car.
  2. Aerospace industry:In the aerospace industry, high pressure casting technology is used to manufacture lightweight and high-strength parts that need to withstand extreme environmental conditions such as high temperature and high pressure. High pressure casting can meet these high requirements and provide reliable support and connection components for spacecraft.
  3. Medical field:In the medical field, high pressure casting technology is used to produce various medical devices and tools, such as surgical instruments, housings and brackets for medical devices, etc. These castings have high precision, high corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility, which can meet the stringent requirements of cleanliness, precision and durability in the medical field.
  4. Electronic products:In the manufacture of electronic products, high pressure casting technology is used to produce components such as chassis, housings, radiators, connectors and sockets. These castings have high strength, excellent heat dissipation performance and good shielding effect, which provide important guarantees for the performance and reliability of electronic products.

FAQs

1.What is the workflow of high pressure casting?

Theworkflow of high pressure castingmainly includes: Material preparation: Select the appropriate metal alloy, carry out material proportioning and pretreatment. Mold design and manufacturing: Design and manufacture precision molds according to the shape and size requirements of the product. Heating and melting: Heat the metal alloy to liquid state, usually using an electric furnace or a gas furnace for heating. Mold closing: The mold closing mechanism of the die-casting machine closes the movable mold and the fixed mold of the mold to form a sealed cavity. Pressure injection: Apply high pressure to the heated metal alloy, and inject the liquid metal into the mold at high speed through the injection system.

2.What is the core equipment of high pressure casting?

The coreequipment of high pressure castingis the die-casting machine. The die-casting machine is mainly composed of a mold clamping mechanism, an injection mechanism, a power system and a control system, and is equipped with a safety protection mechanism. It can accurately control the injection speed, pressure and time, as well as the opening and closing of the mold and the cooling process to ensure the quality and dimensional accuracy of the casting.

3.What are the challenges of high pressure casting?

Althoughhigh pressure casting has many advantages, it also faces some challenges. The design and manufacture of its precision molds require high costs. Die casting machines require regular maintenance and calibration to ensure their performance and accuracy. High pressure casting is mainly suitable for metal alloys with high melting points, such as aluminum, zinc, etc. Defects such as pores, shrinkage holes, and cracks are prone to occur during high pressure casting, and a series of measures need to be taken to prevent and reduce the occurrence of these defects. During the high pressure casting process, process parameters such as injection speed, pressure, temperature and time need to be precisely controlled to ensure the quality and performance of the castings. Slight changes in these parameters may have a significant impact on the castings. In order to overcome these challenges, it is necessary to continuously improve and optimize high pressure casting technology to improve the quality and performance of castings while reducing production costs and environmental impact.

4.How to optimize the high pressure casting process?

Tooptimize the high pressure casting process, advanced mold manufacturing technology and materials can be used to improve the durability and precision of the mold. According to the application scenario and requirements of the casting, select the appropriate alloy composition and heat treatment process. Strictly control various process parameters in the casting process, such as pressure, temperature, speed, etc. Establish a complete quality management system and use advanced testing technology and equipment to test and evaluate castings.

Summary

As an efficient metal forming process,high pressure casting plays an important role in the automotive, electronics, medical device and other industries. By continuously optimizing the process and equipment performance, high pressure casting will be able to produce higher quality and more complex metal parts to meet the market demand for high-quality products.

Disclaimer

The content on this page is for reference only.LSdoes not make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or validity of the information. No performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, material quality and type or workmanship should be inferred as to what a third party supplier or manufacturer will deliver through the Longsheng Network. It is the responsibility of the buyerseeking a quote for partsto determine the specific requirements for those parts.Pleasecontact usfor moreinformation.

LS Team

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Gloria

Rapid Prototyping & Rapid Manufacturing Expert

Specialize in cnc machining, 3D printing, urethane casting, rapid tooling, injection molding, metal casting, sheet metal and extrusion.

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