The Benefits of Using Magnesium for Die casting
Posted by sunainaram on December 22nd, 2015
Die casting is a manufacturing technique that allows manufacturers to mass produce geometrically complex parts. This technique also reduces wastage, cuts down production time and increases turnover. The metal alloy is chosen based on the type of product produced. The various properties of the material are carefully studied, so that they match the functionalities of the final product.
One of the metals used in precision casting is magnesium. Its lightweight nature and easy malleability makes it a good choice for the production of a number of products. If manufacturers want to design a product that has excellent stiffness, durability and very lightweight, then magnesium alloys will be perfect. Plus, this metal can be used to create casts with very thin walls, which makes it an ideal choice for production of small and thin products. Another reason why magnesium die casting is preferred by many manufacturers is that it can withstand very high operating temperatures. So, even if the metal is melted at high temperatures, it doesn’t lose its inherent properties.
The other properties of magnesium such as high electrical and heat conductivity, high dimensional stability and excellent EMI and RFI shielding properties make it a preferred choice for precision casting. Moreover, the production costs of magnesium is less when compared to engineered thermoplastic materials. Products produced using magnesium die casting technique are not strong and durable, but cost effective too. The other benefit of using magnesium for die casting is that it has full recyclability. This means that there is zero wastage of the raw material used in the production process. In case the final product has cracks or minor flaws, then it can be thrown into the melting pot to the melted and processed in the next batch. In this way, manufacturers can save a lot of money and material. Magnesium has good finishing properties, which means the finished product need not go through another elaborate round of polishing and finishing. This helps reduce expenses as well as production time.
The different alloys of magnesium are alloy AZ91D and magnesium creep. Both these magnesium alloys have immense strength and rigidity. Magnesium die casting is usually done using small pots, which does away with the need for a centralized furnace. While working with small pots, the manufacturer has the freedom to work on multiple alloys simultaneously.
The various properties of magnesium and its alloys make it a reliable and cost-effective material for precision casting.
