Explore the physics, process steps, advantages, limitations and real-world products of die, evaporative, investment, and centrifugal casting.
Select a casting method
Die casting uses extreme hydraulic pressure to inject molten metal into hardened steel dies. The metal is forced into the die cavity at high speed, creating precise, complex geometries with excellent dimensional accuracy. Ejector pins push the finished casting out immediately after solidification.
All four methods across 8 critical parameters
| Parameter | Die Casting(active) | Evaporative Casting | Investment Casting | Centrifugal Casting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Very High (1,500–15,000 psi) | Atmospheric (~1 atm) | Atmospheric + Vacuum (~1 atm) | High (100–1000 g's) |
| Cooling Rate | Very Fast | Slow | Moderate to Fast | Fast to Very Fast |
| Surface Finish | Excellent (Ra 0.5–2 µm) | Rough (Ra 3–6 µm) | Excellent (Ra 0.2–0.5 µm) | Good (Ra 2–4 µm) |
| Dimensional Tolerance | ±0.005–0.010 in | ±0.25–0.5 mm | ±0.01–0.05 in (tightest) | ±0.15–0.3 mm |
| Tooling Cost | $50,000–$500,000 | $5,000–$50,000 | $10,000–$100,000 | $100,000–$1M |
| Production Rate | Very Fast (10,000+/day) | Slow (10–100/day) | Slow (5–50/day) | Moderate (50–500/day) |
| Part Complexity | Very High | Very High | Very High | Cylindrical/Moderate |
| Best For | High-volume precision | Complex internal geometry | Aerospace & precision | Hollow cylinders & pipes |