Die casting and injection moulding are widely used manufacturing methods. Everything from car parts to kitchen sinks are fabricated using one of these techniques.
On the face of it, they’re pretty similar, but dig a little deeper and you’ll uncover real differences.
Wondering which is better? Cheaper? Or more suited to your project? Then read on as the team at Lupton and Place takes a closer look at diecasting Vs injection moulding.
What is die casting?
Die casting has been around for hundreds of years.
It works by pouring molten metal – typically aluminium, zinc or copper – into a specially created mould (or ‘die’) where it then cools and hardens before being released.
Die casting is favoured for its ability to mass-produce parts with intricate detailing quickly and efficiently.
What is injection moulding?
Injection moulding hasn’t been around as long but is an equally effective manufacturing technique.
The process involves injecting a material – usually liquid plastics and polymers – into a mould under high pressure.
Again, the liquid must then be allowed to cool and harden before the formed parts can be released.
What’s the difference between the two?
Aside from the materials used, there may not initially appear to be much difference between the two processes, but closer inspection identifies some significant variations in the overall cost and parts produced, which should be considered when evaluating which process to use.
To help, we’ve identified the key pros and cons of each method.
Pros of die casting
✔ Highly levels of accuracy
✔ High tolerance makes for excellent durability and strength
✔ More stable than injection mouldings
✔ Excellent precision – intricate detailing makes this process ideal for complex shapes and designs
✔ Optional finishing – unless desired for aesthetic reasons finishing is rarely necessary with die cast parts
✔ Fast – components are produced at great speed without compromising accuracy, making die casting ideal for mass production
Cons of die casting
X More expensive
X Not ideal for small-scale projects
X Only suitable for metals and alloys – and not ideal for metals with high metal points, such as steel
X Not recommended for large parts
Pros of injection moulding
✔ Suitable for a wide variety of plastic, resins, and polymers
✔ Typically used for plastics but can also be used with molten metals giving extensive choice over the material used
✔ A cheaper alternative to metal diecasting
✔ Fillers can be injected to enhance the overall strength of parts created
✔ Suitable for creating large components
Cons of injection moulding
X Require finishing – injection mouldings invariably require some form of finishing as parts often have flashes
X Temperatures must be well regulated – this is less sensitive with die casting
X The exact pressure of the injection also needs to be carefully monitored as it varies between the type of plastic used
And the winner?
On a basic level, if you’re looking for complex parts with unrivalled precision and accuracy, die casting wins. Yet if size is a key factor, and you intend to produce large parts, then it’s worth looking at injection moulding.
Often though, both methods can offer a quality option for manufacturing. It’s in these situations that it’s important to assess the specifics of your project more closely, taking into account time and budget constraints, the scale of production, and the desired end characteristics of the part.
There’s much to consider, which is why it’s worth discussing your project in more detail with an expert before committing to either process.
Talk to the team
At Lupton and Place, we’re highly experienced in the field of manufacturing and have been leading the way with die casting for well over a century.
If you want to discuss die casting Vs injection moulding in detail, then we’re the team to talk to.
Visit our dedicated die casting page to find out more, or get in touch now by completing our online contact form or calling 01282 422361. We’d love to help.