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Glossary of Die Casting Terms
(courtesy NADCA)A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
ADCI. The “American Die Casting Institute,” a trade association serving the die casting industry by providing statistical, marketing, technical, and management programs.
Alignment System. A set of pins, bushings, blocks, and wear plates that work together and cause the two die halves to align properly.
Alloy. A substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal and a non-metal. The alloy elements are dissolved in each other when molten and fused together when a solid. Most die castings are made from alloys.
Alloy, Certified Zinc. A program implemented by the ADCI in which participating die casting companies regularly have their zinc die castings tested to certify they are maintaining the correct alloy content.
Aluminum. A light silvery metal that is used as the major constituent in may die casting alloys. Anodize. A chemical process using an electric current in a solution to produce a hard and dense oxide protective surface on a part.
As-Cast. The condition of a die casting when the runners, flash, and overflows have been removed, but no surface finishing, machining, or coating operations have been performed.
Auto-Ladle. A mechanical metal feeding delivery device usually attached to a cold chamber die casting machine, or a part of a furnace system.
Automatic Operation. An expression used to describe a die casting machine that operates continuously without an operator initiating each cycle, lading the molten metal, or removing the casting.
Benching. The hand finishing of die casting die cavity surfaces.
Biscuit. The excess of ladled metal that remains in the shot sleeve on a cold chamber die casting machine. The biscuit is part of the cast shot and is removed from the die with the casting.
Blister. A casting defect characterized by a smooth bump on the surface of the casting and a hole inside the casting directly below the bump.
Blow. The physical opening of the die casting die when the internal force of the shot exceeds the locking force of the machine. The “blow” causes flash and excessive casting thickness.
Castibility. The relative ease that a molten metal flows through a casting die. More generally, the relative ease that a casting can be made with a particular alloy.