Bringing innovative technology to traditional craftsmanship.
Adding value to the die casting process is paramount to A&B Die Casting. One significant technology that A&B has embraced is vacuum-assisted die casting.
The basic die casting process consists of injecting molten metal under high pressure into a steel mold called a die. With a vacuum-assisted system, a vacuum is drawn in both the shot sleeve and the mold cavity before the injection shot occurs. Almost all air is positively evacuated from the mold and the vacuum is maintained until the injection cycle is completed. Vacuum-assisted die casting decisively reduces gas porosity in the casting. This significant reduction in the volume of gas porosity and the pore sizes in castings has the result of markedly improving the density and tensile strength of the end product.
A good vacuum in the mold cavity enables the alloy to flow into blind recesses in complex shapes. It also allows the fronts of the molten metal to merge freely without forming shuts.
Vacuum-assisted die casting offers benefits beyond simply reducing porosity.
• Larger, thinner, and more complex castings are made possible.
• Product density and strength are increased.
• Rejections due to porosity are virtually eliminated.
• Excellent surface quality is ensured.
• Less casting pressure is required, resulting in extended tool life and mold life.
Vacuum alone will not make a casting system more efficient. Vacuum supplements the efficiency of a well-designed casting process and extends its capability. It depends on the expertly engineered die cavities, runners, vents, and overflows designed by A&B tooling engineers.