When can die casting offer advantages over producing a design as a stamping?
A. Stamping from sheet steel offers economy that is difficult to equal when a component can be made from one relatively simple stamping. Steel stamping dies that perform a single operation are less costly than die casting dies. The relative costs for tooling and processing depend on the number and types of dies and presses needed. When a highly complex stamping or several stampings are required, die casting can be a cost-effective alternative, and can achieve complex shapes impossible with a stamping. In the case of multiple stampings, costs of fixturing and welding added to the costs of fabricating the additional parts, can make die casting very competitive. Material costs for stamping may be substantially higher than indicated by published per pound costs due to high scrap rates. Stampings invariably consume more material than is contained in the end product, sometimes substantially more.
