PMS Diecasting is very efficient and productive zinc diecasting company based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. We have the ability to manufacture low cost or cheap diecastings for use in the global markplace. We can compete with Chinese diecastings because of the set up of our Company. We use highly productive Frech DIecasting machines and robotics to reduce labour to an absolute minimum and work a 24 hour shift pattern to ensure overhead rates are as low as possible. To ensure casting quality on high volume production we are developing 100% in-line quality checking with the use of electronic scales accurate to 1/100th of a gramme to pass and reject any castings which fall outside pre-set tolerances.
As the Company develops we will be positioned to supply high volume castings which have been 100% quality checked. This will set PMS Diecasting apart from any other diecaster in the UK or China for low cost / cheap diecastings which can be guaranteed for casting integrity and dimensional accuracy.
Glossary of Die Casting Terms
Automation - Industry term commonly used to describe the mechanisation of various aspects of die casting process.
Blister - A surface bubble caused by gas expansion (usually from heating) which was trapped within the die casting or beneath the plating.
Blow holes - Voids or pores which may occur due to entrapped gas or shrinkage during solidification, usually evident in heavy sections. (See porosity)
Cavity - The recess or impressions in a die casting die in which the casting is formed.
Cold chamber machine - A type of die casting machine in which the metal injection mechanism is not submerged in molten metal.
Die lubricant - Liquid formulations applied to the die to facilitate casting release and prevent soldering.
Dimensional stability - Ability of a component to retain it’s shape and size over a long period of service.
Draft - The taper given to walls, cores and other parts of the die cavity to permit easy ejection of the casting.
Ejector marks - Marks left on castings by ejector pins.
Ejector pins - A rod which forces the casting out of the die cavity and off cores.
Ejector plate - A plate to which ejector pins are attached and which actuates them.
Fillet - Curved junction of two surfaces, e.g., walls which would meet a sharp angle.
Flash - A thin web or fin of metal on a casting which occurs on die partings, vents and around moveable cores. This excess metal is due to working and operating clearances in a die.
Gate - Passage for molten metal which connects runner with die cavity. Also, the entire ejected content of a die, including castings, gates, runners sprue (or biscuit) and flash.
Hot chamber machine - Die casting machines which have the plunger, gooseneck (metal pressure chamber) immersed in molten metal in the holding furnace.
Impact strength - Ability to resist shock, as measured by a suitable testing machine.
Ingot - Metal or alloy cast in a convenient shape for storage shipping or remelting.
Injection - The processes of forcing molten metal into a die.
Insert - A piece of material, usually metal, which is placed in a die before each shot. When molten metal is cast around it, it becomes an integral part of the die casting.
Loose piece, knockout - A type of core (which forms undercuts) which is positioned in, but not fastened to a die. It is so arranged as to be ejected with the casting and from which it is removed. It is repeated for the same purpose.
Metal saver - Core used primarily to reduce amount of metal in a casting and to avoid sections of excessive thickness.
Multiple cavity die - A die having more than one duplicate impression.
Overflow - A recess in a die connected to die cavity by a gate to assist in proper venting.
Parting line - A mark left on die casting where the die halves meet; also, the mating surface of the cover and ejector portions of the die.
Plunger - Ram or piston which forces molten metal into a die.
Porosity - Voids or pores resulting from trapped gas, or shrinkage during solidification.
Process control - Where parameters of a process are studied and correctly applied in the manufacturing process to produce high quality parts.
Runner - Die passage connecting sprue or plunger holes of a die to the gate where molten metal enters the cavity or cavities.
Shot - The segment of the casting cycle in which molten metal is forced into the die.
Shrinkage, solidification - Dimensional reduction that accompanies the freezing (solidification) of metal, passing from the molten to the solid state.
Shrink mark - A surface depression which sometimes occurs next to a heavy section that cools more slowly than adjacent areas.
Slide - The portion of a diecast die arranged to move parallel to die parting. The inner and end forms a part of the die cavity wall that involves one or more undercuts and sometimes includes a core or cores.
Soldering - Adherence of molten metal to portion of the die.
Trim die - A diefor shearing or shaving flash from a die casting.
Unit die - A die interchangeable with others in a common holder.
Undercut - Recess in the side wall or cored hole of a casting disposed so that a slide or special form of core (such as a knockout) is required to permit ejection of the casting from the die.
Vent - Narrow passage at the die parting which permits air to escape from the die cavity as it is filled with molten metal.
Void - A large pore or hole within the wall of a casting usually caused by entrapped gas. A blow hole.
Waterchannel - A tube or passage though which water is circulated to cool a casting die.
For more information regarding quality checking contact Gordon Panter.
