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Die Casting Tooling FAQ

1. What is the tooling material used for your die cast tools? What is the tool life?
2. What are common questions raised during die casting tooling design and tool making reviews as relate to the part?
3. What are common questions raised during die casting tooling design and tool making production reviews as relate to the mold?
4. What are the main factor(s) affecting tooling cost?
5. How many 1st articles can customers get from a new tooling?

Q. What is the tooling material used for your die cast tools? What is the tool life?

We use SKD61 (of JIS standard of Japan) tool steel, which provides the same tooling characteristics as those used in North America, with tool life of 80,000 shots (depending on surface finish requirements).

Q. What are common questions raised during die casting tooling design and tool making reviews as relate to the part?
Common review questions as relate to the product are whether:

• having enough draft?
• wall thickness is sufficient?
• parting line is OK?
• needing changeable inserts?
• needing logo?
• if radius is enough?
• if needing to add ribs?
• during final castings:
  • date code is needed?
  • ejection pin location will affect the part's surface cosmetics?
  • if machining will be used (additional material for casting needs to be added for machining)?
  • deciding on parting lines
  • deciding on the gating way

Q. What are common questions raised during die casting tooling design and tool making production reviews as relate to the mold?
They are:

• how many slides will be used?
• how many cavities will be used?
• deciding on the cooling system

Q. What are the main factor(s) affecting tooling cost.
By far the complexity of the part is the main factor affecting tooling cost.

Q. How many 1st articles can customers get from a new tooling?
Typically we provide 2-3 pieces of 1st articles for approval. For smaller parts we can provide more.