Effects of process parameters on quality of squeeze casting A356 alloy.

This investigation has studied the influence of the various casting variables on the quality of indirect squeeze castings primarily of aluminium alloys. The variables studied include gating design, filling velocity and squeezing pressure. The quality of the die casting was assessed by an analysis of both their surface condition and internal soundness. The cavity filling patterns with fanned gates and straight gate are compared. Straight gates are prone to cause jetting of the metal stream even at low velocities while fanned gates allow use of higher fill velocity without excessive jetting. A higher metal pressure provides a more complete fill of the die including improved compensation for solidification shrinkage. The gate velocity for cavity filling process is one of the most important factors for attaining a sound casting. Either too slow velocity or too rapid gate velocity can cause such defects as misrun, indications, jetting vortex, air entrapment, etc. Furthermore, the computer models using the UES ProCast software are conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]