La pressofusione di alluminio è ampiamente utilizzata nel settore automobilistico, elettronica, e industrie aerospaziali grazie alla sua leggerezza, alta resistenza, ed efficienza in termini di costi. Tuttavia, il processo coinvolge molteplici e complessi collegamenti, dalla selezione del materiale al post-trattamento, e qualsiasi svista può portare a difetti come la porosità, crepe, o sottogetto. Per garantire una produzione stabile e parti in alluminio di alta qualità, manufacturers must master critical precautions throughout the workflow. This article systematically breaks down key considerations in each stage, providing actionable guidance to avoid common pitfalls.
1. Selezione dei materiali: Match Alloy to Part Function
Choosing the right aluminum alloy is the foundation of successful die casting. Different alloys have unique properties, and mismatching alloy to part function can cause premature failure or performance issues. Below is a comparative table of commonly used aluminum alloys and their application precautions:
| Lega di alluminio | Proprietà chiave | Typical Applications | Critical Precautions |
| ADC12 | Buona lanciabilità, forza moderata (σb≈310MPa), easy machining | Engine housings, riduttori, general structural parts | Avoid low-temperature environments (<-10°C): High silicon content (11-13%) causes embrittlement at low temps. |
| A360 | Elevata tenacità (δ≈10%), excellent impact resistance | Ruote, componenti delle sospensioni, parti portanti | Do not use for high-temperature scenarios (>150°C): Toughness decreases sharply with prolonged heat exposure. |
| A356 | Resistente al calore (service temp up to 250°C), buona resistenza alla corrosione | Parti ad alta temperatura (per esempio., exhaust manifolds, EV motor casings) | Balance strength and machining: Higher magnesium content (0.2-0.4%) improves heat resistance but may increase tool wear. |
| AlSi17CuMg | Superhard (σb≈420MPa), elevata resistenza all'usura | Parti ad alto stress (per esempio., hydraulic valve cores, ingranaggi di precisione) | Control impurity content: Strictly limit iron (<0.8%) to prevent brittle intermetallic compounds. |
Core Tip: For parts with mixed requirements (per esempio., resistenza al calore + tenacità), conduct small-batch trials first. Per esempio, an EV battery frame may need A356 for heat resistance but require adjusting copper content to enhance strength—test 50-100 samples to verify performance.
2. Progettazione di stampi & Produzione: Avoid Structural Hidden Dangers
Mold design directly affects part quality and production efficiency. Poor mold structure often leads to defects like flash, restringimento, or difficult ejection. The following are key precautions organized by mold component:
2.1 Compensazione del ritiro: Ensure Dimensional Accuracy
Aluminum alloys shrink during solidification—ignoring this leads to undersized parts. Follow these rules:
- General Compensation: Apply an average shrinkage rate of 1.6%-1.8% for most aluminum parts. Per esempio, a part with a designed length of 100mm should have a mold cavity length of 101.6-101.8mm.
- Zonal Compensation: For complex structures (per esempio., costolette, bosses), adjust compensation rates:
- Add 0.2mm to rib thickness (per esempio., 3mm rib → 3.2mm mold cavity) to prevent shrinkage-induced thinning.
- Reduce compensation to 1.2%-1.4% for thin-walled areas (<2mm) to avoid overfilling.
2.2 Gating & Exhaust Systems: Prevent Porosity and Undercasting
- Gating System:
- The cross-sectional area of the main runner should be 15%-20% larger than the gate sleeve entrance to reduce flow resistance. Per esempio, if the gate sleeve entrance is 20mm², the main runner should be 23-24mm².
- Inner gate thickness = 40%-60% of part wall thickness (typical 3-5mm). A 5mm thick part needs an inner gate of 2-3mm—too thin causes premature solidification; too thick leads to excess material.
- Exhaust System:
- For deep-cavity parts (depth >50mm), utilizzo three-stage exhaust (main exhaust groove + auxiliary exhaust needle + vacuum valve) to fully remove trapped air.
- Total exhaust cross-sectional area ≥ 1/3 of inner gate area. If the inner gate is 30mm², exhaust area should be ≥10mm² to avoid air entrainment.
2.3 Meccanismo di espulsione: Protect Part Integrity
- Ejector Pin Spacing: ≤Φ8mm for general parts; ≤Φ5mm for thin-walled parts (<1.5mm) to prevent deformation. For a 100mm×100mm thin-walled cover, arrange at least 9 perni di espulsione (3×3 grid).
- Ejection Force Calculation: Account for expansion pressure (aluminum expands 2-3% quando riscaldato) E friction coefficient (0.15-0.2 for aluminum-mold contact). Use the formula: Forza di espulsione (kN) = Part weight (kg) × 8-10 (safety factor).
3. Process Parameter Control: Stabilize Production Quality
Aluminum die casting is sensitive to process parameters—small deviations can cause major defects. Focus on the following critical parameters with specific control ranges:
3.1 Controllo della temperatura: Balance Fluidity and Solidification
| Temperature Type | Control Range | Precautions for Special Parts |
| Aluminum Liquid Temperature | 670-720°C | Thin-walled parts (<2mm): Use upper limit (700-720°C) to improve fluidity; parti a pareti spesse (>10mm): Use lower limit (670-690°C) to reduce shrinkage. |
| Mold Preheating Temperature | 180-250°C (280°C for large parts >5kg) | Avoid cold mold startup: Mold temp <150°C causes rapid solidification, leading to undercasting. Use electric heating rods or hot air to preheat evenly. |
3.2 Iniezione & Pressurization: Avoid Turbulence and Shrinkage
- Velocità di iniezione: 0.5-1.2SM. Per parti complesse (per esempio., 5G filter cavities with narrow grooves), utilizzo stepped speed increase (0.5m/s → 0.8m/s → 1.0m/s) to prevent splashing.
- Pressurization Build-Up Time: 3-8 secondi. Extend to 10 secondi for stress-bearing parts (per esempio., automotive suspension brackets) to ensure full compaction.
- Special Processes:
- Pressofusione sottovuoto: Cavity vacuum >90kPa reduces porosity to <1%—suitable for pressure-resistant parts (per esempio., cilindri idraulici).
- Oxygenated Die Casting: Inject pure oxygen into the cavity to reduce inclusions by 70%—ideal for parts requiring high surface quality (per esempio., cornici per smartphone).
3.3 Presa & Raffreddamento: Ensure Dimensional Stability
- Holding Time: 10-25 secondi. Add 2 seconds for every 1mm increase in gate thickness. A 5mm gate needs 18-20 seconds of holding time to compensate for shrinkage.
- Tempo di raffreddamento: 8-20 secondi. Use cooling inserts (per esempio., copper inserts with water channels) to shorten cooling time by 30% per parti a pareti spesse, improving production efficiency.
4. Defect Prevention & Response: Troubleshoot Common Issues
Even with strict control, defects may occur. The table below lists typical defects, their causes, and immediate solutions:
| Defect Type | Main Causes | Soluzioni |
| Undercasting | Insufficient inner gate area; low aluminum liquid temperature | Expand inner gate cross-sectional area by 20%; increase aluminum liquid temp by 10-15°C. |
| Flash | Inadequate clamping force; mold parting surface wear | Increase clamping force to 85% of equipment rating (per esempio., 850kN for 1000kN machine); grind and repair worn parting surfaces. |
| Restringimento | Lack of feeding channel; short holding time | Add open riser neck (diameter = 1.5×gate thickness); extend holding time by 3-5 secondi. |
| Air Holes | Poor exhaust; high moisture in raw materials | Add exhaust plugs at fixed coil positions; dry raw materials at 120-150°C for 4-6 ore. |
| Cracks | Sharp corners; uneven cooling | Increase fillet radius to ≥R3; optimize cooling system (per esempio., add water channels near sharp corners). |
5. Post-trattamento & Controllo qualità: Ensure Final Performance
Post-treatment and inspection are the last lines of defense against defective parts. Follow these precautions:
5.1 Post-Treatment Processes
- Lavorazione di precisione:
- CNC milling allowance: 0.3-0.5mm per side (0.8mm for complex surfaces with curved shapes).
- Utilizzo PCD (polycrystalline diamond) inserts to improve tool life by 3-5 times compared to carbide inserts—critical for high-volume production.
- Surface Strengthening:
- Micro-arc Oxidation: Achieve film thickness of 15-25μm; ensure salt spray test >2000 hours for corrosion-resistant parts (per esempio., componenti marini).
- Composite Coating (Ni-P/PTFE): Apply double coating for parts requiring wear resistance (per esempio., sliding bearings) to reduce friction coefficient by 40%.
- Defect Repair:
- Argon arc welding: Current ≤90A, interlayer temperature <150°C to avoid thermal cracks.
- Metal penetrant impregnation: Use low-viscosity impregnants for small pores (<0.1mm) to ensure leak tightness.
5.2 Quality Inspection Standards
- Controllo dimensionale: Use CMM (Macchina di misura a coordinate) for key dimensions (CTQ, Critical to Quality) with tolerance ≤±0.15mm.
- Prestazioni meccaniche: Tensile test requires σb≥320MPa, δ≥2% for structural parts.
- Leak Detection: Helium mass spectrometry ensures leakage rate <1×10⁻⁶mbar·L/s for pressure-bearing parts (per esempio., EV water-cooled plates).
- Internal Defects: X-ray real-time imaging meets ASTM E446 Level B to detect internal porosity and inclusions.
6. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on Aluminum Die-Casting Precautions
Alla tecnologia Yigu, we believe that aluminum die-casting success lies in “controllo preciso + systematic prevention.” Many manufacturers focus only on process parameters but ignore early-stage DFM (Progettazione per la producibilità) reviews—for example, designing parts with sharp corners that inevitably cause cracks. We recommend establishing a cross-departmental DFM team (compreso il disegno, muffa, and process engineers) to identify manufacturability issues before mold production.
Per la produzione di massa, we advocate SPC (Controllo statistico del processo) to monitor key parameters (temperatura dello stampo, injection speed, tempo di raffreddamento) in real time—this reduces defect rates by 40-50% compared to manual monitoring. Inoltre, for high-end parts like aerospace servo valve housings, combining vacuum die-casting with selective laser cladding (for local reinforcement) balances precision and performance. By integrating these precautions into every stage, manufacturers can achieve a yield rate of over 98% for aluminum die-cast parts.
7. Domande frequenti: Common Questions About Aluminum Die-Casting Precautions
Q1: Can I reuse aluminum scrap from die casting, and what precautions should I take?
SÌ, but the proportion of return material should be controlled within 30% to avoid increasing impurity content. Before reuse, remove surface oxides and oil stains by shot blasting; preheat scrap to 150-200°C to eliminate moisture. Mixing return material with new ingots in a 3:7 ratio maintains alloy performance stability.
Q2: How to prevent mold sticking during aluminum die casting?
Primo, ensure mold preheating temperature is ≥180°C (cold molds increase adhesion). Secondo, use high-temperature resistant release agents (per esempio., graphite-based) and apply a uniform film (thickness 5-10μm) to the cavity. Terzo, polish the mold cavity to Ra≤0.8μm—rough surfaces increase friction and sticking risk.
Q3: What are the precautions for packaging and transporting aluminum die-cast parts?
- Anti-Rust Protection: Impregnate with LZ-301 anti-rust oil (oil film thickness 3-5μm) to prevent oxidation during storage.
- Physical Protection: Use pearl cotton for corner protection and EPE foam padding between layers to avoid collision scratches.
- Environmental Control: Maintain relative humidity ≤60% and temperature -20~45°C during transportation—avoid extreme temperatures that cause thermal deformation.
