New product on the table?
Whether it’s your first creation or you’re frequently dealing with new ideas for products and parts – deciding on the right manufacturing process is tough.
Which method will optimise quality, glean the best results, and stay within budget?
With numerous options available – and each die casting process presenting different benefits and drawbacks – identifying the right one can be tricky. To help, here we run through the basics, including some of the popular options available and the key things it’s important to consider before making your choice.
What is a manufacturing process?
Manufacturing is the process of turning raw materials into finished goods. There are a variety of ways this can be done using tools, machinery, or human labour.
The amount – and type – of labour used in manufacturing is dependent on what is being produced. Carpentry and textiles for example, are frequently customised and made ‘by hand’ and so rely on traditional processes. In comparison, the mass production of identical car parts depends more heavily on machines.
Key things to consider
Before you can decide on the best manufacturing process for your needs, it’s worth taking time to think about 4 key points. These are:
1. How do you want your product to look and feel?
The look and feel of a product can be crucial, making or breaking its success. Beneficial then, to take time to think about how you want your finished product to look. For example, die casting offers excellent precision and repeatability but can sometimes result in surface defects such as burrs or flashes. CNC machining will produce a finish that cannot be replicated by other methods.
2. What budget are you working with?
Always a significant factor in product development, cost need to be accurately projected and fully accounted for. CNC machining can result in more waste than die casting but this needs to be balanced against the fact that it doesn’t incur additional tooling cost.
Time is money and die casting is invariably the faster option for large quantities thanks to its speedy production cycle. However, CNC machining can prove favourable, and more cost-effective, for smaller quantities of particularly complex products or parts.
It’s important to weigh up all the options available. Taking into consideration the volume you’re looking to produce and the speed in which you require product turn around, to ensure reliable and accurate costings.
3. What materials do you intend to use?
This can be a real deal-breaker. If your product is based around wood then die casting isn’t going to be for you, but if you’re seeking the lightweight, versatile qualities of metal then aluminium die casting could be the ideal solution.
4. Who is the right manufacturer?
Regardless of your preferred manufacturing process – the key to success often hinges on working with the right team. It’s essential to work with a company capable of understanding and interpreting your requirements fully, working to your specific remit and strictly to budget.
Be sure to do your research and check out reviews and recommendations.
Talk to the experts
Why waste time debating which process to use – talk to the experts at Lupton and Place to discover if die casting or CNC machining could be right for you?
We offer the very latest in technology for all your manufacturing needs but never lose sight of the human touch, combining state-of-the-art machinery and expert knowledge with a keen eye for detail and quality.
The result? A die casting service that guarantees a product tailored to your exact requirements and 100% compatible with your needs.
So, whether you’re just in the design process and aiming to make the vision a reality, or you’re looking to finetune manufacturing processes already in place. Why not get in touch with the team at Lupton and Place to find how we can assist?
Call us today on 01282 422 361, email info@lupton-place.co.uk or fill in our online form and we’ll be in touch.