Aluminum Die Casting Metals

Aluminum die castings are all around us. Aluminum is the most common element used in die casting. Aluminum die castings are primarily used in the automotive industry for components in your car. (think engine block and transmission housing).

Other uses include heat sinks, handles, valve bodies, light fixtures and many others.

Aluminum Benefits:

Lightweight
High strength
High melting temperature
Corrosion resistance
Electrical shielding properties
Good thermal conductivity
Recyclable

Aluminum alloys we cast

Additional aluminum alloys available at your request.

Aluminum castings are lightweight and able to withstand the highest operating temperatures of all die cast alloys.

Characteristics of Aluminum Alloys

Sustains high operating temperatures
Exceptional resistance to corrosion
Lightweight
Strong and hard
Impressive stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio
Excellent EMI and RFI shielding capabilities
Superior thermal conductivity
High electrical conductivity
Good finishing qualities
Fully recyclable

The combination of aluminum’s strength, resistance to corrosion, and heat dissipation properties provides mechanical designers with considerable advantages. At Lakeshore Die Cast, our unique Thin Wall Aluminum Technology expands the possibilities for aluminum die casting across various applications.

Hot Chamber Aluminum Die Casting

Traditionally confined to cold chamber methods, our engineers at Lakeshore Die Cast have pioneered a technology enabling the use of aluminum alloys in hot chamber die casting. This proprietary, high-speed process employs a multi-slide approach, resulting in quicker production cycles and cost savings while maintaining part integrity. Benefits of hot chamber aluminum die casting include reduced porosity, longer die lifespan, and minimized surface irregularities, among others.

This hot chamber capability marks a significant advancement for die casting manufacturers, providing a distinct industry-wide advantage.

Benefits of Aluminum Die Casting

Aluminum die casting offers the creation of lighter components with more surface finishing options than other alloys. It also endures the highest operating temperatures among die-cast alloys. Additionally, cast aluminum is highly versatile, corrosion-resistant, and maintains high dimensional stability with thin walls, making it suitable for nearly any industry.

Applications of Aluminum Die Casting

Automotive: Enhances fuel efficiency by contributing to weight reduction requirements.
Telecom and Computing: Used in networking and infrastructure equipment for heat dissipation in RF filter boxes and housings.
Handheld Devices: Provides EMI/RFI shielding, rigidity, and durability with minimal weight.
Electronics: Ideal for electronic connectors and housings due to excellent electrical performance and shielding properties, even in high-temperature environments.

Recycling Aluminum Die Castings

Did you know that over 95 percent of aluminum castings in North America are made from post-consumer recycled aluminum? There is minimal functional difference between primary (pure) and secondary (recycled) aluminum when used in die casting. Secondary aluminum alloys result from blending pure aluminum with materials like magnesium, iron, and copper. Using pure aluminum is rare due to its high extraction cost.

The ease of use in die casting, combined with its lightweight and durability, makes aluminum alloys a preferred choice for designers in almost any industry. Producing secondary aluminum is more cost-effective, requiring only 5 percent of the energy needed for primary aluminum production. Most energy consumption in aluminum die casting is used for heating and re-melting the metal during fabrication. Therefore, at Lakeshore Die Cast, we save time, energy, and money by re-melting in-house.

Aluminum Alloys That Lakeshore Die Cast Offers

A380

A380 is among the most frequently specified aluminum alloys, offering numerous significant benefits.

A413

A413 is known for its exceptional pressure tightness.

413

413 is an aluminum alloy commonly used for die casting components.

K-Alloy

K-Alloy is a cold-chamber aluminum die cast alloy designed to safeguard components in demanding environments.

A360

A360 boasts excellent pressure tightness and fluidity.