From the viewpoint of product design, die casting die
design
can be described as a problem-solving process that
involves
making design decisions, evaluating their acceptability
and
making modifications where necessary. In general,
die-casting
die designers used to break down the design problem into
a
series of subfunctions that must be fulfilled. Each
subfunction
can be further divided into even simpler subfunctions
that are
decomposed in terms of the functions that must be
performed.
The primary function of a die-casting die is to shape the
molten metal into a finished product. It is performed by
some
functional components, whose shape and sizes are
determined
directly by the die-casting product, such as cavity and
core
plates, inserts, sliders and lifters. A die-casting die
also has to
complete a series of secondary subfunctions such as the
distri-
bution of molten metal, cooling, and ejecting of the
product.
The structure and shape of these components that realise
these
secondary subfunctions are usually independent of the
die-
casting product, and more importantly, they are usually
similar
in structure and shape for different die-casting dies.
It is estimated that more than 90% of die design is based
on variant design [9]. This means that when a new design
problem arises, it is usually solved by modifying the
existing
design rather than solving the problem from scratch. Die-
castings are produced in a wide range of sizes and
configur-
ations, from precision components to high-performance
auto-
mobile parts that are difficult to characterise and
classify. The
shape of a die-casting product might be complex and
different
in certain case, but the structure and constituents of
the die is
always similar, particular for product-independent
components.
Therefore, there is significant value in reusing previous
designs.
With a further decomposition in terms of the functions
that
must be fulfilled, the die-casting die design can be
divided
into the following design modules.
没有评论:
发表评论