Must Read | Decoration 4 DIE CASTING &STRIKING First invented in the mid-1800s, die casting and striking is a method widely used to make metal parts for manufactured goods and machinery. Most consumer goods, from door handles to power tools to children’s toys to golf clubs, contain die-casted components. In the promotional products industry, die casting and striking are used to fashion custom items, such as awards, coins, medallions, belt buckles, model toys and pins. Die casting is the process of manipulating metals into desired shapes by pouring molten metal into molds to create objects or parts. The most common metal casting materials include aluminum, magnesium, pewter, zinc, brass and copper. Time and pressure typically cause the liquid metal to solidify in a matter of seconds and take the shape of the mold. The result is a sturdy object that won’t lose its shape. Die casting is a highly accurate way to duplicate an object’s dimensions, such as a 3D paperweight in the shape of a company emblem. Once the desired object is formed, details are added and excess material removed via metal striking, using mallets, chisels or other tools, while the metal is still hot and pliable. (Keep in mind that metal stamping is a different process that involves the use of upper and lower molds/dies to stamp an imprint into a product, such as a blank metal coin or name plate.) A single die lasts for about 80,000 shots – or 80,000 times of the mold being injected with metal – making this method ideal for mass production. Since the goal is a solid object, 3D printing may be considered as an alternative to die casting. While 3D printing does not require the use of dies/molds, there are minimal costs upfront and a lower barrier to entry, but it generally costs more per unit for 3D printed products than die casting. Also, while 3D printing saves time, die casting offers a wider range of options, as not all materials can be 3D printed, particularly metals. Die Casting and Striking Are Ideal For: • Awards and recognition. • Memorabilia/collectibles. • Accessories for wearables, like belt buckles and bag hardware. • Consumer electronics. • Cookware (stainless steel skillets and cast-iron pans). Renda is a New York Metropolitanarea freelance writer and a former associate editor at PPAI. Metal Die Casting & Striking Quick Facts: • Great way to create complex or unusual shapes. • Uniform quality ideal for mass production. • Fewer steps from rawmaterial to finished product. • Requires die/mold creation, which means longer lead times and changes to orders are costly and time-consuming, making it less economical for smaller orders. d1sk / Shutterstock.com 50 • JANUARY 2023 • PPAI
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