Die Casting vs Sand Casting

In the metal foundry industry, there are several types of casting, but each type has a common goal. There are many people out there who use the names of these quite different casting processes interchangeably. This is just one reason we like to partner with our customers, so the right casting is implemented for their specific project.

The casting processes themselves are as different as the names of the processes. That is, die casting is a totally different procedure than sand casting, and we help determine which type of casting is best for your project.

Die Casting

Die casting is a process where liquid or molten metal is forced into a die under high pressure. The die refers to the steel mold created in the shape the product will be made. When the metal cools and becomes solid, you have a product that has just been manufactured. The mold is then reclosed and prepared for another pour. This is a rather quick cycle and therefore the process is pretty fast.

Sand Casting

In sand casting, the liquid metal is poured directly into a mold in the sand and there is no high pressure involved. When the metal has cooled, the mold is opened and sand brushed away form the product. But there is more downtime to this procedure as sand needs to be replaced around the match plate after each casting. Because of this, it is best to use sand casting when you need a lower quantity of parts.

This is just a basic outline of the procedures of course, for more details, give us a call and we can talk.