877.708.0009

Die creation thoughts… was yours designed with manufacturability in mind?

Die creation thoughts… was yours designed with manufacturability in mind?

by | | Die Casting, Engineering

A high quality die cast component begins with a quality die. The die itself determines the tolerances held, repeatability, strength, complexity, and how many parts can be created utilizing that single die. A well-designed die should incorporate as many features as possible to minimize post machining operations; thus saving money for the final unit part cost and faster throughput.

Designing your die for optimal manufacturability (or DFM) is what will truly makes it a high-quality tool. Keeping manufacturability in mind not only delivers a successful die but also one that will last and create more consistent, higher-performance parts.

It is always a good idea to partner with your die casting company early in your project in order to get the best quality casts possible. The die casting engineers can assess your project’s concept or existing part, from design to end product, and work with you to optimize the design for casting. They will go over specifics such as:
• Critical tolerances
• Wall thickness
• Functional requirements
• Cosmetic requirements
• Finishes
• Secondary operations
• Mating parts or assemblies
• Volume
• Project completion expectations
• And more

Though dies can be expensive to create, and it can be appealing to try to cut costs in this area, it is never a good idea to go with the lowest bidder when it comes to die creation. Die design and creation affects the overall quality, uniformity, shape, and configuration of your final cast part. An improperly created die will result in inferior cast products, as well as tool or material corrosion. A die that fails will grind production to a halt and force you to spend more time and money re-building your die. Working closely with an experienced die caster will help you not only achieve the best possible product but also save you both time and money in the long run.

A few other things to keep in mind to ensure a long-lasting and quality die that produces consistent high quality parts:
• Make sure that your die is created with high-quality materials by an experienced shop
• Allow for some wiggle room in tolerances for non-critical design elements
• Plan for some flexibility in the draft angles of non-critical design elements (this will help ensure easy part extraction which will extend the life of the die)
• Make sure to partner with your die caster early in the process (that way their engineers can help make adjustments in the design phase which will save you some money avoiding re-designs)

Ready to get started?
A&B Die Casting utilizes 3D models and our FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling Machine) to check die layouts for part design fit and moldability. This helps us quickly address potential design for manufacturability (DFM) issues so that we can optimize the design for the die casting process. Utilizing our FDM in this manner also allows us to revise the design prior to the creation of the production die which saves you both time and money.

With over 75 years of die casting expertise, our team of experienced engineers will evaluate your requirements to help you decide which would be the best option to achieve the desired result for your part. Our in-depth knowledge and experience allows us to control the entire pre- and post-operative processing, as well as provide turn key part solutions with a variety of options, to meet our customer’s individual needs. Contact A&B Die Casting today to get started on your next project!

How Can 3D Printing Benefit Your Die Casting?

How Can 3D Printing Benefit Your Die Casting?

by | | Die Casting, Engineering

Die casting is an extremely popular, effective, and reliable manufacturing process for creating metal products. Die cast parts produce high quality, uniform pieces that can be created in just about any size, part geometry, surface texture, or finish. They also require minimal secondary processes since many features can be integrated into the design such as studs, hinges, drill holes, and bosses, to name just a few.

Die casting is a time-tested manufacturing method that is dramatically benefitting from newer technologies such as 3D printing. 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, gives engineers greater design flexibility since a 3D printer can print just about anything that you can imagine and model a drawing of.

What are the benefits of 3D printing for die casting?
3D printing has quite a few clear benefits for die casting, such as:
• Design flexibility
• Easy to revise designs
• Perfect for prototyping or testing proof of design
• Saves you time and money

3D printing is an inexpensive way to create and test a working model of a design. Utilizing this technology to test your designs makes it easier to make design revisions without the high costs of making multiple dies. The technology helps die casters bypass a lot of costly and time-consuming aspects of creating and testing out dies and is a great choice for achieving proper fit and function of a product when you are testing out the design before beginning high-volume production. This equates to better die cast products, faster production times, and quite a bit of cost savings.

How does A&B Die Casting utilize 3D printing?
Die creation is expensive, utilizing 3D printing to check the part design for fit and moldability, as well as revising it quickly as needed prior to the creation of the production die will save you both time and money. Creating 3D models utilizing FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling Machine), as A&B Die Casting does, helps the die caster address potential design for manufacturability (DFM) issues to optimize the part for the die casting process.

Not only is 3D printing valuable in DFM (Design For Manufacturability) with the mold design but it also helps with secondary operations that will be needed to bring the product to its final specifications. It allows the die caster to develop machining fixtures, as well as get a head start on writing the machining and CMM inspection programs. All of this facilitates getting the actual FA castings processed to completion and approved for production faster.

The use of 3D printing in design for manufacturability in die casting has proven to save time, reduce costs, and ensure better results. Utilizing 3D printing technology is ideal for highly complex casting jobs, facilitating both greater design freedom and cost-effectiveness in pattern and mold production.

Ready to get started?
With over 75 years of die casting expertise, our team of experienced engineers will evaluate your requirements to help you decide which would be the best option to achieve the desired result for your part. Our in-depth knowledge and experience allows us to control the entire pre- and post-operative processing, as well as provide turn key part solutions with a variety of options, to meet our customer’s individual needs. Contact A&B Die Casting today to get started on your next project!

Design Geometry Considerations for Die Casting

Design Geometry Considerations for Die Casting

by | | Die Casting, Engineering

Producing a top quality die cast component part starts with a solid and well thought out design. The goal of any die cast design is to create a casting that will maximize the function of the part, while being one that can be produced fairly quickly, efficiently, with few defects, and little to no secondary operations necessary.

There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing a die, such as:
• Wall thickness
• Wall thickness uniformity
• Draft
• Pockets
• Fillets and corners
• Ribs and bosses
• And more

Wall thickness
Wall thickness is the distance between two parallel (or nearly parallel) surfaces and will vary depending on the thickness to length ratio of the entire part. If your part is very long it is difficult to maintain a very thin wall. You want your wall thickness to be as thin as possible while maintaining the strength and overall functional requirements necessary for your specific application.

Typical minimum wall thickness:

Wall thickness uniformity
Ideally, you want a design that creates uniform wall thickness all around the casting. This doesn’t mean that it needs to be 100% the same on all sides, only that you should strive to minimize drastic wall thickness variations. Dramatic variations in wall thickness can result in different rates of cooling along the cast wall which can alter the dimensions of the finished part. Uniform thickness also allows you to better control the flow of the metal into the die in order to ensure a complete fill.

Draft
When it comes to die casting a draft refers to the slope or taper that run in the direction of the die’s opening. The taper should be greater on the interior of the die walls than it is on the exterior walls so that when the alloy cools and solidifies it will shrink and fit more tightly on the inside of the casting. The greater the interior draft, the easier the finished part will be to remove from the die and the more precise the finished product will be.

Pockets
If your part needs to be light, pockets are excellent inclusions in die cast designs. Basically these pockets, also referred to as metal savers, are open spaces or holes placed in the design of the die. Strategically placed pockets make your final part lighter without compromising any of the structural integrity.

Fillets and corners
Fillets are the curved parts of the casting where two surfaces would normally have come together at a sharp angle. They are added to a die casting to eliminate hard edges and corners that are not desired in the final part. It is best to utilize large inner and outer corner radii for the cast part. The larger the radii the stronger the final part will be.

Ribs and bosses
Bosses generally serve as stand-offs and mounting points, while ribs are added to provide support without increasing wall thickness. If it is possible, design any necessary ribs and bosses directly into the die cast. These features help eliminate sharp corners and help increase the overall strength of the finished part.

Consulting with an experienced die caster during the design phase will help eliminate any potential problems affecting tooling and production of your new part.

How can A&B help?
A&B Die Casting leads the industry with a trusted worldwide reputation for unique economical approaches and value-added services for all of your die casting solutions. We pride ourselves on doing the hard work upfront so that we can generate the most value to our customers for years to come.

Need assistance or want to get started on your next die cast project? Contact A&B Die Casting today!

Assembly Methods for Die Cast Parts

Assembly Methods for Die Cast Parts

by | | Engineering

Die casting is an extremely popular manufacturing process for creating metal products. Die cast parts produce high quality, uniform pieces that can be created in just about any size, part geometry, surface texture, or finish. They can require minimal secondary processes since many features can be integrated into the design such as studs, hinges, drill holes, and bosses, to name a few. There are quite a few methods to assemble individual die cast parts made from aluminum or zinc.

These methods include:
• Adhesive bonding
• Attachment systems
• External threads
• Forming or self-cutting fasteners
• Injected Metal Assembly (IMA)
• Inserts
• Interference fits
• Threaded fasteners

Adhesive bonding
Adhesive bonding between metals is becoming a more popular practice among die casters. The adhesive “wets” the entire surface to be joined and must have a lower surface tension than the materials being joined. Joints that are subjected to high tension are generally not suitable for adhesive bonding. Adhesive bonds are also prone to thermal degradation and peeling. Adhesive bonding is extremely popular for bonding sheet steel in automobile bodies.

Attachment systems
Attachments that require plastic deformation of the casting is usually limited to alloys with high ductility, such as zinc.

Attachments of this nature include:
• Crimping
• Staking
• Swaging

Adhesive bonding has become much more popular since the stresses are spread out more uniformly and exposed surfaces are not disturbed. They also offer other benefits such as sealing, insulating, and corrosion barriers.

External threads
It is possible to cast external threads on cylindrical features under specific circumstances. Threads can be formed across the parting line of the die with either slides or solid components. Flash can get left in threads with slides, or made across parting lines, which can be quite difficult to remove. If the flash isn’t severe, it can be removed through the process of the bolt and nut installation. Many manufacturers prefer casting flats at the root of the thread on the parting line so that the flash forms on the flats making it very easy to remove.

Forming or self-cutting fasteners
This type of assembly utilizes hard steel fasteners that anchor to the die cast part itself by either forming to or cutting into the part as they are installed. Die cast alloys are typically relatively soft and readily accept these types of fasteners.

These types of fasteners include:
• Spring clips
• Stamped nuts
• Self-tapping screws
• Thread-forming screws

In most cases properly sized holes can be cast into the part to accept the required fastener. Spring clips and stamped nuts develop a relatively low retention force where as self-tapping and thread-forming screws have a much higher retention capability. Though, fasteners that cut form small chips where they bite into the metal part which may not be tolerable in certain finished projects, such as sensitive electronic equipment.

Injected Metal Assembly (IMA)
The IMA process is very similar to the adhesive bonding process except IMA utilizes a molten alloy to bond components together. The process creates a strong, permanent, mechanical “lock” that can withstand high loads and can also bond metals to non-metal parts. The process requires no special surface preparations and issues such as thermal degradation and peeling are not very common.IMA bonds also perform exceptionally well in harsh environments.

Small components of just about any material can be joined utilizing IMA, such as:
• Ceramic
• Elastomers
• Fibers
• Metals
• Paper
• Plastics

Inserts
Inserts are used when the design will impose conditions that exceed the capabilities of the alloys such as excessive thread wear, concentrated loads, abrasion, and wear at a bearing point. However, inserts cause residual stress within the cast part so proper planning for long term retention is vital. There are two types of inserts that can be installed – cast-in-place or post-installed inserts. The cycle time and the cost are usually what determine which type of inserts is used.

Cast-in-place inserts allow for a wider range of mechanical lock securing options since the alloy is cast directly around the insert. They are required to be as dimensionally accurate as the die into which it is inserted, which increases both the cycle time and cost per part. However, with very large castings it is more economical to use cast-in-place inserts since the cycle time is already increased due to the size of the cast part.


Examples of cast-in-place inserts

Post-installed inserts are more economical for faster run, smaller parts produced on highly automated machines and projects which have less stringent tolerances.

Interference fits
These types of fits are used to retain components, such as bearing and dowel inserts. If the interference is light (0.001 in./in [0.001 mm/mm] or less), the installation can take place with both parts at room temperature. Heavy interference usually requires the parts to be heated and may also cause metal removal which will lead to a reduction in retention. The removal of metal on the parts depends on the hardness of the metals, the amount of interference, lubricant use, and the leading edge of each part.

Threaded fasteners
Threaded bolts, or studs, are commonly used to join die cast parts together. If the attachments are made in sections with thin walls clearance holes are needed in order to allow the bolt to pass through. The bolt would then be secured in place with a nut.

Bosses are capable of being designed into the casting itself to receive bolts or studs into tapped holes. Though the boss diameter will need to be at least twice the size of the bolt’s diameter since die cast joints are more prone to dilation.

Also, keep in mind that in order to minimize porosity in the cast area where the thread is present, the tapped holes need to be cored. Both coarse and fine threads can be tapped although coarser threads are generally preferred.

The process of die casting and any secondary assembly operations have a symbiotic relationship; meaning they are heavily dependent upon each other and they work together to create the final product. Planning ahead for the assembly method you will use can help to minimize any potential problems as well as reduce costs and speed up production time.

Need a hand? With over 75 years of die casting expertise, our team of experienced engineers will evaluate your requirements to help you decide which would be the best fastener option to join your components to achieve the desired result for your part. Our in-depth knowledge and experience allows us to control the entire pre- and post-operative processing, as well as provide turn key part solutions with a variety of options, to meet our customer’s individual needs. Contact A&B Die Casting today to get started on your next project!

Design Assistance Brings Parts Online Faster

Design Assistance Brings Parts Online Faster

by | | Engineering

Asking for design assistance early in the process saves time and costs.

Atecs, Inc., produces high-quality products and services for aerospace and energy clients worldwide. Atecs uses their 64 years of experience to provide harsh-environment solutions for engine test, aero support equipment, constructed facilities, space flight components and energy service products.

When Atecs decided to introduce a fire-resistant version of their vent damping controller, die casting was an obvious choice for a part that needed to be strong, light, and fire-resistant. Since A&B also has a long history working with manufacturing clients, Atecs engineers shared their design with A&B engineers to make sure the part would be appropriate for die casting, as well as economical to produce.

A&B engineers carefully reviewed the client’s design requirements and suggested many ways to improve the original design.

1. The part had to perform under a heavy load of 85 pounds. A&B built fixtures and testing equipment to make sure the load requirements were met.
2. Quality and finish were critical. A&B modified the design of the boss on the original part to make trimming easier and also made modifications to eliminate flash in the gears.
3. Production and tooling needed to be streamlined. The original part design would have required complex tooling. A&B was able to simplify the tooling and help the customer bring the part online faster at a reduced cost.

Overall, A&B reduced the number of secondary operations that would have been needed, which helped to reduce overall production costs. The next time you start a design project, talk to our engineering team to see how we can help you make a product that is better than you imagined.

Better Products Through Better Design

Better Products Through Better Design

by | | Engineering

Partnering with your die casting vendor can result in better products in less time.

Vendors can be a valuable and often overlooked, resource in the early stages of product design. As an experienced provider of precision die castings, the engineering staff at A&B Die Casting has spent years guiding manufacturing customers through a careful design-for-manufacture review process to make sure their products are not only functional but economical to produce.

A&B staff engineers are always ready to help you with design assistance. The key to getting a better product is a careful evaluation of the application and design requirements of a component or assembly. Special care is taken to see how a new design can be optimized for the die casting process or how an existing design can be improved going forward.

How does this design-for-manufacture evaluation add value for A&B customers?
• Reducing assembly steps, weight and secondary operations.
• Improving product aesthetics.
• Driving down costs while improving the overall part.

Our dedicated and experienced engineering staff will work with you from early in your project until completion to help you choose the materials and methods that will deliver a better product every single time.