Although die casting lubricant is continuously exposed to changing pressures and velocities and differing degrees of wear, a dynamic equilibrium – and, therefore, realistic data – may be attained through careful control.
Excerpt from the May 2018 Issue of Gear Solutions by K.D. Clarke and C.J. Van Tyne
Both hot- and cold-chamber die casting are batch-type processes in which steady-state conditions are never fully achieved and the initial lubricant supply must perform adequately for the duration of the operation. The lubricant is continuously exposed to changing pressures and velocities, and wear or pickup products in the lubricant also continuously vary, although a dynamic equilibrium may be attained through careful control. The absence of steady-state conditions creates challenges for the systematic analysis of lubrication and wear in forging processes.
In many ways, various forging processes are competitive with one another, and the competitive position of each is greatly influenced by the lubrication system employed. Thus, hot forging followed by finish machining may be replaced by cold forging, with all the associated advantages, provided that a suitable lubricant can be found. Indeed, economy of production has often been the major impetus for the development of new forging processes and associated lubrication techniques.
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