Die casting articles having an insert

• US 5,730,199 A
• Filed: 11/19/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nelson Global Products, Inc. (Nelson Global Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nelson Global Products, Inc. (Nelson Global Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Shimmell, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BATTEN JR, J REED
• Application Number:
  US08/752,663
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 164/4.1, 164/113, 164/98
• US Class Current: 164/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/10 with horizontal press motion
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/2015 Means for forcing the molten metal into the die for plastics B29C45/46

Abstract

The stroke of the shot sleeve plunger is set at a high-volume setting corresponding to the volume of the die. Pre-production articles without an insert are cast within the die. The stroke of the shot sleeve plunger is set at a low-volume setting corresponding to the volume of the die minus the volume of the insert, and production articles each having an insert are cast within the die.

Claims

1. A method of die casting articles each having a structural insert comprising:

setting the stroke of a shot sleeve plunger at a high-volume setting corresponding to the volume of a die;

die casting pre-production articles without the insert within the die;

setting the stroke of the shot sleeve plunger at a low-volume setting corresponding to the volume of the die minus the volume of the insert; and

die casting production articles with the insert within the die.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein both of said setting steps comprise limiting the stroke of a cylinder operating the shot sleeve plunger.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein further comprising during said second die casting step fine tuning the stroke of the shot sleeve plunger.

4. A method of die casting articles each having a structural insert comprising:

setting the stroke of a shot sleeve plunger at a high-volume setting corresponding to the volume of a die;

repeatedly die casting pre-production articles without the insert within the die until the die is heated to an operating temperature;

once the die is heated to an operating temperature, setting the stroke of the shot sleeve plunger at a low-volume setting corresponding to the volume of the die minus the volume of the insert; and

die casting production articles with the insert within the die.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein both of said setting steps comprise limiting the stroke of a cylinder operating the shot sleeve plunger.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising during said second die casting step fine tuning the stroke of the shot sleeve plunger.

7. A method of die casting articles with inserts, comprising the steps of:

providing an insert occupying a volume;

providing a die having a volume;

providing a shot sleeve having a volume and a plunger reciprocable between an extended position and a retracted position, the die further including a gross volume control means for providing gross adjustment of the retracted position of the plunger, and a fine volume control means for providing fine adjustment of the retracted position of the plunger;

setting the gross volume control means at a high-volume setting such that the volume of the shot sleeve corresponds to the volume of the die;

die casting articles without the insert until the die has reached operating temperature;

setting the gross volume control means at a low-volume setting such that the volume of the shot sleeve corresponds to the volume of the die minus the volume of the insert; and

die casting the desired number of articles with the inserts.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the gross volume control means includes a control cylinder having a position;

and

wherein said setting steps include moving the position of the control cylinder to vary the stroke of the plunger.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising during said second die casting step operating the fine volume control means to adjust the volume of the shot sleeve.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the fine volume control means includes a stroke adjustment rod;

and

wherein said operating step includes rotating the stroke adjustment rod to vary the retracted position of the plunger.