Die Casting: Dies—Machines—Methods

MACHINERY’S REFERENCE SERIES
EACH NUMBER IS ONE UNIT IN A COMPLETE LIBRARY OF MACHINE DESIGN AND SHOP PRACTICE REVISED AND REPUBLISHED FROM MACHINERY
NUMBER 109
By Chester L. Lucas
Copyright, 1913, The Industrial Press, Publishers of Machinery, 49–55 Lafayette Street, New York City

Die-casting, a comparatively recent method for producing finished castings, is rapidly proving itself an important factor in the economical manufacture of interchangeable parts for adding machines, typewriters, telephones, automobiles and numerous other products where it is essential that the parts be nicely finished and accurate in dimensions. The term “die-casting” is self-explanatory, meaning “to cast by means of dies”; described briefly, the process consists of forcing molten metal into steel dies, allowing it to cool in them, and then opening the dies and removing the finished casting. It is the purpose of this treatise to give a general outline of the die-casting process, showing its possibilities and limitations, and also to give a description of the die-casting machinery and its operation, of the fundamental principles involved, and of the methods used in the die-making. Illustrative examples of the best types of dies, based on results obtained from actual experience, will also be given.
The origin of the die-casting process is somewhat difficult to ascertain. We may look into the history of type founding and find that away back in 1838, the first casting machine for type, invented by Bruce, was a machine that involved the principles of die-casting as it is practiced to-day. More recently, in 1885, Otto Mergenthaler brought out the linotype machine. This machine is a good example of a die-casting machine. However, as we interpret the word to-day, die-casting is a broader term than type-casting or linotyping, although its development without doubt is due to the success of the linotype machine. It is doubtful if die-casting, properly speaking, was originated until about fifteen years ago, and it is certain that it is only during the past few years that the activities in this line have been very noticeable.