Die casting machine and die casting method

Abstract

A die casting machine ( 1 ) is provided, including a die casting mold ( 3 ) having at least one stationary first casting mold part ( 5 ), at least one second casting mold part ( 7 ) that is movable along guide pillars ( 6 ), and at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8, 9 ), which are movable relative to one another transversely to the travel path of the at least one second casting mold part ( 7 ). Locking pins ( 14 ) protrude from at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8, 9 ), which in a locked position engage behind at least the movable second casting mold part ( 7 ) such that the travel path of the at least one second casting mold part ( 7 ) is limited in the direction away from the at least one first casting mold part ( 5 ). The invention further relates to a die casting method for producing metal castings using the casting mold as described above.

1 . A die casting machine ( 1 ,  10 ), comprising a die casting mold ( 3 ) having at least one stationary first casting mold part ( 5 ), at least one second casting mold part ( 7 ) that is movable along guide pillars ( 6 ), and at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ), which are movable relative to one another transversely to a travel path of the at least one second casting mold part ( 7 ), locking pins ( 14 ) project from the at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ), and, in a closed position, engage behind at least the at least one movable second casting mold part ( 7 ) in such a way that the travel path of the at least one second casting mold part ( 7 ) in a direction away from the at least one first casting mold part ( 5 ) is limited. 
     
     
         2 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking pins ( 14 ) projecting from the at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ) engage behind the stationary first casting mold part ( 5 ) and the movable second casting mold part ( 7 ). 
     
     
         3 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a partial area of the movable second casting mold part ( 7 ) is movable in an interspace bounded by the lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ). 
     
     
         4 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the locking pins ( 14 ) is movable in a longitudinal direction of the pin. 
     
     
         5 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one locking pin ( 14 ) is movable in the longitudinal direction of the pin against a return force. 
     
     
         6 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one of a return spring, or a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electromechanical force transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking pins ( 14 ) are integrated into the at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ). 
     
     
         8 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking pins ( 14 ) engage behind an associated counter support on at least one of the casting mold parts ( 5 ,  7 ) in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the counter support associated with at least one of the locking pins ( 14 ) is a flange ( 21 ) projecting from at least one of the casting mold parts ( 5 ,  7 ). 
     
     
         10 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the locking pins ( 14 ) taper toward a free pin end thereof such that a side face thereof facing the adjacent counter support forms a guide bevel ( 22 ), and the counter support provided at least on one of the casting mold parts ( 5 ,  7 ) has a complementary mating guide bevel. 
     
     
         11 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the second casting mold part ( 7 ) has two casting mold part pieces ( 23 ,  24 ), which are movable to a distance from one another, and the upper casting mold part piece ( 23 ) carries the counter support. 
     
     
         12 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the casting mold part pieces ( 23 ,  24 ) of the second casting mold part ( 7 ) are guided so as to be movable one inside the other and are movable to a distance from one another by applying pressure to at least one parting surface situated therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ) is movable transversely to the travel path of the second casting mold part ( 7 ) by a lateral part drive, and a return movement of the lateral part drive of the at least one lateral casting mold part ( 8 ,  9 ) is blockable mechanically. 
     
     
         14 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said lateral part drive is assigned at least one blocking catch ( 16 ), which is movable between an open position and a blocking position, in said blocking position the blocking catch ( 16 ) acts upon a stop surface connected to one of the lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ) in such a way that a return movement of the lateral part drive is blocked. 
     
     
         15 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the blocking catches ( 16 ) taper in such a way toward a free catch end thereof that a side face thereof facing the adjacent lateral casting mold part ( 8 ,  9 ) forms a guide bevel, and the stop surface ( 17 ) connected to the lateral casting mold part ( 8 ,  9 ) has a complementary mating guide bevel. 
     
     
         16 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein one of the lateral part drives is assigned to each of the laterial casting mold parts, and the lateral part drives comprise hydraulic cylinders ( 13 ). 
     
     
         17 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the casting mold parts ( 5 ,  7 ) and the lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ) delimit at least one mold cavity ( 4 ), and at least one air extraction opening ( 25 ) and at least one inflow opening ( 26 ) for the molten metal opens in said mold cavity ( 4 ). 
     
     
         18 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein at least one blocking slide ( 27 ) is guided movably in the movable second casting mold part ( 7 ), closing the at least one inflow opening ( 26 ) in a leak-tight manner in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the die casting machine ( 1 ,  10 ) has at least one molten metal pump ( 29 ), by which the molten metal is pumped out of a molten metal reservoir ( 28 ), via the at least one inflow opening ( 26 ), into the at least one mold cavity ( 4 ) of the die casting mold ( 3 ). 
     
     
         20 . The die casting machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide pillars ( 6 ) project beyond the stationary first casting mold part ( 5 ) or beyond a machine platen ( 11 ) of the die casting machine ( 1 ,  10 ), said platen carrying the first casting mold part ( 5 ). 
     
     
         21 . A die casting method for a die casting mold ( 3 ) having a stationary first casting mold part ( 5 ), a second casting mold part ( 7 ) that is movable along guide pillars ( 6 ), and at least two lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ), which are movable relative to one another transversely to a travel path of the second casting mold part ( 7 ), comprising, in a first method step, moving the casting mold parts ( 5 ,  7 ) and the lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ) into a closed position of the die casting mold ( 3 ) and joining the mold parts together, locking the casting mold parts ( 5 ,  7 ) and the lateral casting mold parts ( 8 ,  9 ) mechanically to one another in the closed position, feeding a quantity of molten metal intended for at least one mold cavity into the die casting mold ( 3 ), and subjecting the molten metal in the at least one mold cavity ( 4 ) to pressure during a cooling process.