Why Choose Cold Chamber Die Casting

Cold chamber metal casting is one of the two processes of creating metal parts. While some manufacturers consider hot chamber die casting better, the cold chamber method has some advantages that make it hard to beat in terms of quality and durability of the equipment. Keep reading to learn why die casting the metals using the cold chamber process is better.

Benefits

1. Durable parts

Cold chamber casting is praised for its ability to make metal parts long-lasting and hard to break. This is one of the reasons aluminum and copper parts – the most used metals in heavy industry – are cold-chambered rather than hot-chambered. It goes without saying that the sturdier the parts, the harder to damage them during high industrial stress. Wear and tear are also slowed down, reducing the costs of repairs.

2. High melting point compatibility

The greatest disadvantage of hot chamber die casting is its inability to work with metals that have high melting points, as it may lead to the damage of the chamber heated to extreme temperatures. This narrows the range of metals that can be hot-chambered. Things are much better when it comes to cold chamber die casting. Since the metal is molten in a separate furnace, the injection chamber remains relatively cool. So when the molten metal is poured inside, the chamber finds it easy to hold up to the heat it’s exposed to, even when the metal has a high melting point. This makes cold chamber casting compatible with heavily used metals like aluminum, copper, and brass.

3. High density

Cold-chambered parts typically have a higher density than those cast in hot chamber conditions. The reason is the higher pressure used to push the metal in the cylinder. As a result, the metal gets denser and more durable. High density is also obtained by the faster injection, which helps force the metal inside the cavity. Denser metal parts are known to provide a better performance, stand up to higher tension, and wear slower.

4. Finer finish

Cold chamber die casting is the preferred casting method for creating visible metal parts. It’s because the cold chamber injection tends to provide the parts with a finer and smoother finish, which adds to their visual appeal. Also, the cold chamber method is more versatile in allowing giving different shapes to the molten metal. This helps it become the favourite choice of manufacturers from a wide array of industries.

Negative considerations

Aside from its numerous positive aspects, cold chamber metal casting has some negatives that each manufacturer has to consider when hiring a company using this process. First one, the production rates are lower, because the process occurs in two stages: the metal heating and the metal casting which take place in different cavities. Also, the molten metal can cool down while staying in the cold chamber, which affects the die casting process. That’s why it’s important that the metal is cast immediately after being transferred from the furnace to the chamber. In case of poor quality control on the production site, the heated metal is more exposed to contaminants.