IMPROVING SURFACE
FINISHING OF DIE CASTINGS
Upfront collaboration between casting supplier and end user can improve post-casting processing, from fi nishing to painting.
JON MILLER, CHICAGO WHITE METAL CASTING INC., BENSENVILLE, ILLINOIS I
n the diecasting process, metal molds—or dies—are preheated and coated with a die release agent prior to the injection of mol- ten metal that is forced into the die under extreme pressure (usu- ally from 10,000 to 15,000 psi). But once they are ejected from the die, most parts have a journey ahead of them before arriving
at the shipping department. T e large majority of die castings require specifi c coatings and fi nishes, pol- ishing and/or painting. T ese processes are necessary to meet cosmetic/decorative appearance requirements, enhance wear resistance and/or provide a protective barrier against corrosion. T e fi nal decision on any post-casting fi nishing operation should always be made in advance of die design and only after detailed consultation with
34 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Nov/Dec 2015
your casting supplier’s engineering department. T e design features of your part have a direct impact on achieving your precise surface fi n- ish specifi cations.
How Die Casting Features Impact Surface Finishing
Superior as-cast cosmetic surface
fi nishes characterize die castings produced by today’s advanced technology. In order to achieve
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