Chamber Die Casting Basic Guide - What is It and How It Works
There are two common types of die casting, which are the hot chamber die casting and the cold chamber die casting processes. Each method will use the same chamber-based process, but in a different way.
Hot chamber die casting is the process you will use for alloys that have low melting temperatures, such as zinc die casting. So, when you heat the die casting chamber, you can reach the melting temperature fast for these alloys, and then you will inject the molten metal into the die cast mold with some pressure through the gooseneck. This process will not damage the die casting components, such as the nozzle, gooseneck, and others, as you will keep the temperature of the die casting chamber low. In the hot chamber die casting process, you will melt the alloys and deliver it to the casting molds in the same container or chamber.
Meanwhile, cold chamber die casting is the process of casting high melting point alloys, such as aluminum die casting, by first melting the alloys in a separate container. Then, once you’ve reached the melting temperature of these alloys, you will pour it into the shot chamber using a ladle. The shot chamber will have a horizontal connection with the die casting mold, and there will be a plunger you will use to press the molten alloys into the mold cavity. After casting the molten metals into the mold cavity via the shot chamber, you will need to let it cool and solidify to take the shape of the die casting mold.
How Hot Chamber Die Casting Works
The primary principle of the hot chamber die casting process is that the heating process will take place in the same chamber as the transfer process of the molten alloys into the mold cavity. So, you will not perform this process in a different container like the cold chamber method. The molten metals will get transferred via the gooseneck into the mold cavity using the plunger tool to press it.
Here are the steps on how hot chamber die casting works:
●First, you will need to put the low melting point alloys in the hot chamber and heat it until they reach the melting point.
●The melted alloys will go to the gooseneck area, where the plunger will push it with a certain pressure inside the gooseneck area.
●Then, the pressed melted alloys will move into the die cavity, where the die casting process will take place.
●Next, the die casting mold cavity will cool and solidify the melted alloys, and the melted alloys will take shape according to its design.
●Congratulations. You have completed the die casting process using the hot casting chamber method.
How Cold Chamber Die Casting Works
The cold chamber die casting process will require you to use a separate container to heat the alloy materials, as they have a higher melting point, meaning that you will need to heat them at a higher temperature. Then, after heating the alloys until they reach their melting point, you will move them into the mold cavity via the cold chamber.
Here are the steps on how the cold chamber die casting method works:
●First, you will need to heat the alloy materials in a separate chamber or container until they reach their melting point, which will be higher than the melting point of the hot chamber alloy materials.
●After you have heated the alloys to reach their melting point, you will need to move the molten materials into the shot chamber by using a ladle. Please note that the shot chamber is also referred to as cold chamber, hence the name of this die casting process.
●After putting the molten metals into the shot chamber casting, the plunger tool will press the molten materials into the die cavity. Please note that, unlike the hot chamber process, the cold chamber has a horizontal connection with the die cavity, which makes it easy for the plunger tool to move the molten alloys to the die cavity.
●Next, the molten alloys will reach the die cavity and fill up the die casting mold.
●After that, you will need to wait until the molten metals cool down and solidify into the completed die casting rapid prototypes and parts.
●Congratulations. Now, you have completed the die casting process using the cold chamber method.
Advantages of Hot and Cold Chamber Die Casting
Both hot and cold chamber die casting methods have their own advantages. So, you can use both methods in your die casting production process, depending on the materials you use and the die casting products you want to produce.
Here are the advantages of hot chamber die casting:
●Since hot chamber die casting requires low melting point alloys, you don’t need to worry about damaging or cracking your die casting or even sheet metalwork components during the die casting process.
●With the low melting point requirement, you can produce the die casting parts much faster when compared with the cold chamber process.
●You can also produce low porosity die casting parts with the hot chamber method, and there will also be fewer mistakes to expect during the production process.
●With the hot chamber method, you can produce complex die casting parts that have excellent dimensional stability.
●There will also be less waste to produce in this process because of the highly efficient casting process.
Here are the advantages of cold chamber die casting:
●You can rapid manufacturing much larger die casting parts when compared to the hot chamber die casting process.
●The resulting die casting parts will have better dimensional stability and higher durability.
●It allows for high-efficiency production with a wide range of applications in various industries.
●You can produce die casting parts for a cheaper price with more complex design.
●You can also apply various surface treatment options for the die casting parts.
Conclusion of Casting Chamber
You can use the hot chamber die casting method for low melting point alloys, and you can use the cold chamber method for high melting point alloys. Both methods have different processes and equipment, and each has their own advantages. It’s best for you to review your options before undergoing any of the die casting processes, as it can affect the overall results you will get later.
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