MACHINERY’S REFERENCE SERIES
EACH NUMBER IS ONE UNIT IN A COMPLETE LIBRARY OF
MACHINE DESIGN AND SHOP PRACTICE REVISED AND
REPUBLISHED FROM MACHINERY
NUMBER 109
DIE CASTING
DIES—MACHINES—METHODS
By Chester L. Lucas
CONTENTS
| Die Casting | 3 |
| Making Dies for Die-Casting Machines | 15 |
| Van Wagner Mfg. Co.’s Die-Casting Practice | 27 |
Copyright, 1913, The Industrial Press, Publishers of Machinery,
49–55 Lafayette Street, New York City
CHAPTER I
DIE CASTING
Die-casting, a comparatively recent method for producing finishedcastings, is rapidly proving itself an important factor in the economicalmanufacture of interchangeable parts for adding machines, typewriters,telephones, automobiles and numerous other products where it is essentialthat the parts be nicely finished and accurate in dimensions.The term “die-casting” is self-explanatory, meaning “to cast by meansof dies”; described briefly, the process consists of forcing molten metalinto steel dies, allowing it to cool in them, and then opening the diesand removing the finished casting. It is the purpose of this treatiseto give a general outline of the die-casting process, showing its possibilitiesand limitations, and also to give a description of the die-castingmachinery and its operation, of the fundamental principles involved,and of the methods used in the die-making. Illustrative examples ofthe best types of dies, based on results obtained from actual experience,will also be given.
Origin of Die Casting
The origin of the die-casting process is somewhat difficult to ascertain.We may look into the history of type founding and find thataway back in 1838, the first casting machine for type, invented by Bruce,was a machine that involved the principles of die-casting as it is practicedto-day. More recently, in 1885, Otto Mergenthaler brought out thelinotype machine. This machine is a good example of a die-castingmachine. However, as we interpret the word to-day, die-casting is abroader term than type-casting or linotyping, although its developmentwithout doubt is due to the success of the linotype machine. It isdoubtful if die-casting, properly speaking, was originated until aboutfifteen years ago, and it is certain that it is only during the past fewyears that the activities in this line have been very noticeable.
One of the first experiments in the direction of die-casting was undertakento get out some rubber mold parts cheaply enough to leave aprofit on a job that was beginning to look dubious from the financialside. The molds were for making rubber plates about three inchessquare and one-eighth inch thick, the top side of which was decoratedwith fine raised scroll work; it was this latter feature that gave thetrouble. After wasting much time and money trying