Zinc Die Casting
Zinc Die Casting: High Precision and Excellent Properties. Zinc is one of the most versatile die cast metals. It provides higher precision with lower tooling costs when compared to other die cast metals like aluminum or magnesium. Zinc die casting also offers a broad range of excellent physical and mechanical properties, finishing characteristics, and is the easiest to cast.
Advantages of Using Zinc
One of the most significant advantages of zinc is the fact that it reduces tooling costs. Die cast tooling is typically a significant cost factor, so it’s important to save where you can. Because zinc has a low melting temperature, dies can last up to 10 times longer than those used in aluminum die casting and about five times longer than dies used for magnesium. That means fewer repairs, less downtime, and more parts produced over the life of the tool. Small zinc parts can utilize the high-speed 4-slide miniature zinc die casting process, which allows for significantly lower upfront tooling costs when compared to aluminum or magnesium. The many advantages of zinc allow it to be used in a wide range of industries and applications. The advantages of zinc die casting include:
- Longer tool life
- Lower tooling cost (particularly if it can use the miniature zinc die casting process)
- The ability to cast near net-shaped complex geometries with thinner walls and less draft angle than castings produced with other metals reduces the need for machine features.
- Excellent balance of mechanical and physical properties, including higher yield strength and elongation when compared to aluminum or magnesium.
- Good vibration dampening capacity compared to aluminum
- Wide range of finishing options
- Faster production time
Zinc Die Casting Process
Zinc is cast with the fast-cycling die casting process, which utilizes a component called a gooseneck that is submerged in a furnace filled with molten metal. Metal automatically enters the shot chamber through a hole in the gooseneck. A vertical plunger then seals the hole and drives the metal into the back of the die with high pressure. The part rapidly solidifies (within seconds), and the part is ejected from the tool.
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