This chapter provides an overview of aluminum die casting and the equipment used. It discusses the advantages and limitations of the die casting process and the design and operation of hot- and cold-chamber die casting machines. It also discusses clamping systems and forces and the factors affecting die life, including die materials, metal injection cycles, and lubrication. A typical die casting cell layout is also provided.

The die casting process is a widely applied technique used by a variety of industries. This chapter reviews the casting design and engineering requirements for optimizing the characteristics of die castings.