Die-casting system

Abstract

The invention provides a die casting system with an external die body having first and second body portions. A die insert is inserted into an opening of each of the first and second body portions.

1 . A die-casting system comprising: 
 an external die body comprising first and second body portions; and    a die insert inserted into an opening of each of the first and second body portions.    
   
   
       2 . The die-casting system of  claim 1 , wherein each die insert comprises a cavity insert that is inserted in an opening of that die insert.  
   
   
       3 . The die-casting system of  claim 2 , wherein each cavity insert comprises a plurality of cooling inserts that are connected in parallel between an inlet channel and an outlet channel of the respective one of the die inserts.  
   
   
       4 . The die-casting system of  claim 3 , wherein the cooling inserts are thermally coupled to their respective cavity insert.  
   
   
       5 . The die-casting system of  claim 1 , wherein each die insert comprises a plurality of cooling inserts that are connected in parallel between an inlet channel and an outlet channel of the respective one of the first and second body portions.  
   
   
       6 . The die-casting system of  claim 1 , wherein each body portion further comprises a latch adapted to secure a respective one of the die inserts within its opening.  
   
   
       7 . The die-casting system of  claim 6 , wherein each body portion further comprises an actuator for forcing the latch against a lug of the respective one of the die inserts.  
   
   
       8 . The die-casting system of  claim 1 , wherein the first body portion further comprises an alignment block at each of its corners and the second body portion includes a recess at each of its corners for receiving a corresponding alignment block, wherein each recess has adjustable sidewalls for adjusting the position of its corresponding alignment block and thereby adjusting alignment between the first and second body portions.  
   
   
       9 . A die-casting system comprising: 
 an external die body comprising first and second body portions;    wherein the first body portion further comprises a plurality of alignment blocks and the second body portion includes each of a plurality of recesses for receiving a corresponding one of the alignment blocks, wherein each recess has adjustable sidewalls for adjusting the position of its corresponding alignment block and thereby adjusting alignment between the first and second body portions.    
   
   
       10 . The die-casting system of  claim 9 , wherein each adjustable sidewall comprises a pair of inclined surfaces in slidable engagement.  
   
   
       11 . The die-casting system of  claim 10 , wherein one of the inclined surfaces is selectively movable in response to an actuator.  
   
   
       12 . The die-casting system of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment blocks are located at corers of the first body portion and the recesses are located at corresponding corers of the second body portion.  
   
   
       13 . The die-casting system of  claim 9 , wherein each body portion comprises a cooling system, the cooling system comprising a plurality of cooling inserts connected in parallel between an inlet and an outlet channel of the respective body portion.  
   
   
       14 . The die-casting system of  claim 9 , wherein each body portion comprises a mold cavity portion that is removable from that body portion.  
   
   
       15 . A die-casting system comprising: 
 an external die body comprising first and second body portions;    wherein each body portion further comprises a cooling system, the cooling system comprising a plurality of cooling inserts connected in parallel between an inlet and an outlet channel of the respective body portion.    
   
   
       16 . The die-casting system of  claim 15 , wherein each cooling channel comprises an outer flow passage connected to the outlet channel and an inner flow passage connected to the inlet channel.  
   
   
       17 . The die-casting system of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling inserts are thermally coupled to their respective body portion.  
   
   
       18 . The die-casting system of  claim 15 , wherein each body portion comprises a mold cavity portion that is removable from that body portion.  
   
   
       19 . A die-casting system comprising: 
 an external die body comprising first and second body portions;    a die insert inserted into each of the first and second body portions;    a plurality of cooling inserts inserted into each of the die inserts and connected in parallel between an inlet and outlet channel of the body portion corresponding to that insert; and    wherein the first body portion further comprises an alignment block at each of a plurality corners and the second body portion includes recess at each of a plurality of corners for receiving a corresponding one of the alignment blocks, wherein each recess has at least two adjustable sidewalls for adjusting the position of its corresponding alignment block and thereby adjusting alignment between the first and second body portions.    
   
   
       20 . The die-casting system of  claim 19 , wherein each adjustable sidewall comprises a pair of inclined surfaces in slidable engagement.  
   
   
       21 . The die-casting system of  claim 20 , wherein one of the inclined surfaces is selectively movable in response to an actuator.  
   
   
       22 . The die-casting system of  claim 19 , wherein each body portion further comprises a latch adapted to secure a respective one of the die inserts within that body portion.  
   
   
       23 . The die-casting system of  claim 22 , wherein each body portion further comprises an actuator for forcing the latch against a lug of the respective one of the die inserts.