Aluminum gravity casting process

Aluminum gravity casting can also be referred to aluminum gravity die casting,aluminum metal mold gravity casting or aluminum permanent mold casting. Here they describe a same kind of aluminum casting process.
Aluminum gravity casting likes other common ways of casting. The melted aluminum alloy is poured into the mold by means of gravity-fed. Though pouring rate is relatively low, yet the metal mold produces rapid solidification.
Aluminum gravity casting can be operated both by handwork or by gravity casting machines. Because of the low cost of labor force, mostly china gravity casting foundries handle such casting process by handwork without any
assistant machines. Though compared that assisted by machines it has a low production capacity, yet for a small quantity of some gravity casting part, such handwork can have a much lower unit price.

Advantage and disadvantages of aluminum gravity casting

1.Advantages of aluminum gravity casting
1.1.Aluminum gravity casting parts have excellent mechanical properties compared with die casting parts. Because aluminum gravity casting parts has very lower porosity than aluminum die casting parts, Aluminum gravity castings are generally sound, provided that the casting aluminum alloys used exhibit good fluidity and resistance to hot tearing. Besides,mechanical properties of permanent mold castings can be further improved by heat treatment

1.2 .Aluminum gravity casting is suited to high-volume production. Compared with aluminum sand casting process,aluminum gravity casting process uses
permanent mold avoid forming shell every time,thus can save a considerable time for casting process. Furthermore, aluminum gravity casting process can be assisted by gravity casting machines, which can increase the production capacity dramatically.

Disadvantage of aluminum gravity casting:

1:Low volume production compared with die casting.
Compared with aluminum die casting process, aluminum gravity casting process has a lower production capacity. Even gravity casting machine
assisted process can not reach the high production capacity of die casting process. In most china aluminum gravity foundries, handwork is overwhelming.Thus a large order will require a much long lead time than that of aluminum die casting process.

2:High tooling cost compared with sand casting.
Gravity casting can also be referred to metal mold gravity casting,for the solid metal molds it use. Furthermore, the metal is always expensive tool steel.
Compared with wooden or aluminum molds for sand casting,a gravity casting mold is much expensive. Besides,if the mold is used for a gravity casting machine, ejection system,cooling system,and sprue system should be added to the mold. That aslo affect the cost.