The present disclosure relates to die cast parts and, more particularly, systems and methods of making die cast part having high wear resistance.
Many vehicular parts are manufactured by way of die casting. For example, high pressure die casting (HPDC) is a metal casting process that is characterized by forcing molten metal under high pressure into a mold cavity having a predetermined shape of a desired casting. In operation, many of such castings experience undesired wear.
Thus, while current die casts achieve their intended purpose, there is a need for a new and improved system and method for making a die cast part having high wear resistance.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of making a die cast part having high wear resistance is provided. The method comprises providing a negative cast mold comprising an interior surface defining a cavity to form the die cast part. The mold comprises a bore formed through the interior surface at an interior opening of the bore. The bore has an inner wall and is in fluid communication with the cavity.
The method further comprises providing an insert pin comprising a first portion extending to a second portion. The first portion comprises a magnetic core having a magnetic field and a barrier disposed about the magnetic core. The second portion is disposed in the bore such that the first portion extends from the interior opening to the cavity. The method further comprises melting the first metallic material at a predetermined temperature to define a molten metallic material. The first metallic material comprises one of aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy. The first metallic material comprises 1 weight (wt) percent (%) iron (Fe) to 2 wt % Fe.
The method further comprises filling the mold with the molten metallic material such that the molten metallic material is in contact with the first portion of the insert pin to define a contact layer of the molten metallic material. The method further comprises modifying Fe content within the contact layer by way of the magnetic field of the magnetic core to define an outer layer adjacent the first portion and an inner layer formed between the outer layer and the first portion.
The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the die cast part. The inner layer has 3 wt % and 5 wt % Fe and the outer layer has 0.01 wt % Fe and 0.5 wt % Fe. The method further comprises detaching the insert pin from the solidified metallic material and removing the inner layer from the solidified metallic material to provide a hole formed by the outer layer thereof defining the die cast part.
In one example, the inner layer has a thickness 10 microns to 500 microns. In another example, the outer layer has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. In yet another example, the outer layer has a thickness of 0.1 millimeter (mm) and 5 mm. In still another example, the outer layer comprises 0.05 wt % Fe to 0.2 wt % Fe.
In an example, the magnetic field of the magnetic core comprises a magnetic density of 0.1 tesla (T) to 5 T. In another example, the magnetic core is an electrical magnet. In yet another example, the bore is formed through the mold and the insert pin comprises a cooling line formed therein and extending through the bore. In still another example, the mold comprises an outer thermal protection material disposed thereabout.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for making a die cast part having high wear resistance is provided. The system comprises a negative cast mold comprising an interior surface defining a cavity to form the die cast part. The mold comprises a bore formed through the interior surface at an interior opening of the bore. The bore has an inner wall and is in fluid communication with the cavity.
The system further comprises an insert pin comprising a first portion extending to a second portion. The first portion comprises a magnetic core having a magnetic field and a barrier disposed about the magnetic core. The second portion is disposed in the bore such that the first portion extends from the interior opening to the cavity.
The system further comprises a furnace arranged to melt the first metallic material at a predetermined temperature to define a molten metallic material. The first metallic material comprises one of aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy. The first metallic material has 1 weight (wt) percent (%) iron (Fe) to 2 wt % Fe.
The system further comprises a feeding mechanism arranged to fill the mold with the molten metallic material such that the molten metallic material is in contact with the first portion of the insert pin to define a contact layer of the molten metallic material. The magnetic field of the magnetic core is arranged to modify Fe content within the contact layer to define an outer layer adjacent the first portion and an inner layer formed between the outer layer and the first portion.
The system further comprises a cooling mechanism arranged to cool the molten metallic material defining a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the die cast part. The inner layer has 3 wt % and 5 wt % Fe and the outer layer has 0.01 wt % Fe and 0.5 wt % Fe.
The system further comprises a detaching mechanism to detach the insert pin from the solidified metallic material and a removing mechanism to remove the inner layer from the solidified metallic material to provide a hole formed by the outer layer thereof defining the die cast part.
In one embodiment, the inner layer has a thickness 10 microns to 500 microns. In another embodiment, the outer layer has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. In yet another embodiment, the outer layer has a thickness of 0.1 millimeter (mm) and 5 mm. still another embodiment, the outer layer comprises 0.05 wt % Fe to 0.2 wt % Fe.
In an embodiment, the magnetic field of the magnetic core comprises a magnetic density of 0.1 tesla (T) to 5 T. In another embodiment, the magnetic core is an electrical magnet. In yet another embodiment, the bore is formed through the mold and wherein the insert pin comprises a cooling line formed therein and extending through the bore. In still another embodiment, the mold comprises an outer thermal protection material disposed thereabout.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a die cast part having high wear resistance against a steel part is provided. The die cast part comprises a die cast body comprising a first metallic material comprising one of aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy and having 1 weight (wt) percent (%) iron (Fe) to 2 wt % Fe. The die cast part further comprises an outer layer disposed about the die cast body. The outer layer comprises 0.01 wt % Fe and 0.5 wt % Fe for contact with and high wear resistance against the steel part. In one embodiment, the outer layer comprises wt % Fe to 0.2 wt % Fe.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods of making a die cast part having high wear resistance. The systems and methods provide a die cast part having a contact layer with relatively low iron content for high wear resistance. That is, the systems and methods provide a way to modify a contact layer of a die cast part of a vehicle such that the contact layer comprises relatively low iron content. Such low iron content allows for higher resistance to wear against a steel part during operation of the vehicle.
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Alternatively, the magnetic core 40 may be an electrical magnet wherein the magnetic field is created by electric current through the magnetic core 40. In this example, the bore 21 may be formed through the mold 12 from the interior surface 13 through the exterior surface 15 allowing electrical wires (not shown) to extend therethrough to the first portion 32 of the insert pin 30 (
Preferably, the barrier 44 is a thermal barrier coating, a purpose of which is to protect and reduce heat exposure to the magnetic core 40. Referring to
In another embodiment depicted in
Moreover, the second portion 34 is disposed in the bore 21 such that the first portion 32 extends from the interior opening 22 to the cavity 14. Preferably, the inner wall 24 of the bore 21 and an outer surface 52 of the second portion 34 are threaded such that the second portion 34 may be threadedly secured in the bore 21. It is to be understood that other suitable ways of disposing and securing the second portion 34 in the bore 21, such as a threaded collar, may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
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The system 10 further comprises a cooling mechanism 74 arranged to cool the molten metallic material 56 defining a solidified metallic material 20 having dimensions of the die cast part 20. In one embodiment, the molten metallic material 56 is allowed to cool to solidification in the mold 12 to between 400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 500° C. by way of atmospheric temperature, fluid lines/fans disposed about the mold 12, or by any other suitable manner without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
Upon solidification, the inner layer 72 may have a thickness of microns to 500 microns, and preferably 50 microns to 250 microns. Moreover, the outer layer 70 may have a thickness of 0.5 millimeter (mm) to 3 mm, and preferably 0.1 millimeter and 5 mm. Moreover, the outer layer 70 may be comprised of 0.01 wt % Fe to 0.5 wt % Fe, preferably 0.05 wt % Fe to 0.3 wt % Fe, and more preferably 0.2 wt % Fe. In other embodiments, the outer layer 70 may be comprised of 0.02 wt % Fe, 0.06 wt % Fe, 0.1 wt % Fe, 0.15 wt % Fe, wt % Fe, 0.25 wt % Fe, 0.28 wt % Fe, 0.35 wt % Fe, 0.38 wt % Fe, 0.4 wt % Fe, or 0.48 wt % Fe. Furthermore, the inner layer 72 may be comprised of 2 wt % to 6 wt % Fe, 3 wt % Fe to 5 wt % Fe, or 3.5 wt % Fe to 4.5 wt % Fe.
Thus, the outer layer 70 comprises a relatively low iron content, e.g., 0.01 wt % Fe to 0.5 wt % Fe, due to attraction of iron atoms to towards the magnetic field of the magnetic core 40. As a result, the inner layer 72 comprises a relatively high iron content, e.g., 2 wt % to 6 wt % Fe. Given its higher iron content, the inner layer 72 will be removed from the contact layer 62 of the solidified metallic material 20 (in phantom) as described below. Removal of the inner layer 72 provides higher wear resistance during operation.
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Moreover, the system 10 further comprises a removing mechanism 78 to remove the inner layer 72 from the solidified metallic material 20 to provide a machined hole defined by the outer layer 70 of the die cast part. For example, the removing mechanism 78 may be any suitable machining device that removes or machines away the inner layer 72 from the solidified metallic material 20. Given its lower iron content, the outer layer 70 provides higher wear resistance since negligible or no intermetallic material will be formed at the outer layer 70 against a steel part during operation.
The solidified metallic material 20 may then be ejected from the mold 12 by any suitable manner known in the art. For example, the removable piece 19 of the mold 12 may be moved from the stationary piece 18 of the mold 12, and a robotic mechanism may be implemented to eject the solidified metallic material 20 therefrom. The solidified metallic material 20 may then be machined to design dimensions and tolerances, and heat treated as necessary to desired specifications. Furthermore, it is understood that one controller or a plurality of controllers may be used to control each unit/mechanism described herein.
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Preferably, the barrier 44 is a thermal barrier coating, a purpose of which is to protect and reduce heat exposure to the magnetic core 40. As referred to in
Moreover, the second portion 34 is disposed in the bore 21 such that the first portion 32 extends from the interior opening 22 to the cavity 14. Preferably, the inner wall 24 of the bore 21 and an outer surface 52 of the second portion 34 are threaded such that the second portion 34 may be threadedly secured in the bore 21. It is to be understood that other suitable ways of disposing and securing the second portion 34 in the bore 21, such as a threaded collar, may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
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Upon solidification, the inner layer 72 may have a thickness of microns to 500 microns, and preferably 50 microns to 250 microns. Moreover, the outer layer 70 may have a thickness of 0.5 millimeter (mm) to 3 mm, and preferably 0.1 millimeter and 5 mm. Moreover, the outer layer 70 may be comprised of 0.01 wt % Fe to 0.5 wt % Fe, preferably 0.05 wt % Fe to 0.3 wt % Fe, and more preferably 0.2 wt % Fe. In other embodiments, the outer layer 70 may be comprised of 0.02 wt % Fe, 0.06 wt % Fe, 0.1 wt % Fe, 0.15 wt % Fe, wt % Fe, 0.25 wt % Fe, 0.28 wt % Fe, 0.35 wt % Fe, 0.38 wt % Fe, 0.4 wt % Fe, or 0.48 wt % Fe. Furthermore, the inner layer 72 may be comprised of 2 wt % to 6 wt % Fe, 3 wt % Fe to 5 wt % Fe, or 3.5 wt % Fe to 4.5 wt % Fe.
Thus, the outer layer 70 comprises a relatively low iron content, e.g., 0.01 wt % Fe to 0.5 wt % Fe, due to attraction of iron atoms to towards the magnetic field of the magnetic core 40. As a result, the inner layer 72 comprises a relatively high iron content, e.g., 2 wt % to 6 wt % Fe. Given its higher iron content, the inner layer 72 will be removed from the contact layer 62 of the solidified metallic material 20 as described below. Removal of the inner layer 72 provides higher wear resistance during operation.
The method 110 further comprises in box 126 removing the inner layer 72 from the solidified metallic material 20 to provide a hole formed by the outer layer 70 thereof defining the die cast part. For example, a removing mechanism 78 may be arranged to remove the inner layer 72 from the solidified metallic material 20 to provide a machined hole defined by the outer layer 70 of the die cast part. As discussed, the removing mechanism 78 may be any suitable machining device that removes or machines away the inner layer 72 from the solidified metallic material 20. Given its lower iron content, the outer layer 70 provides higher wear resistance since negligible or no intermetallic material will be formed at the outer layer 70 against a steel part during operation.
The solidified metallic material 20 may then be ejected from the mold 12 by any suitable manner known in the art. For example, the removable piece 19 of the mold 12 may be moved from the stationary piece 18 of the mold 12, and a robotic mechanism may be implemented to eject the solidified metallic material 20 therefrom. The solidified metallic material 20 may then be machined to design dimensions and tolerances, and heat treated as necessary to desired specifications.
The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3165983 | Thomas | Jan 1965 | A |
20130145899 | Song | Jun 2013 | A1 |