Do you have a group at your company that would benefit from information on how die casting may be a good fit for new or existing products. Scheduling a NADCA Design seminar on-site at your company is one of the best ways increase knowledge about die casting related to your companies product line. The NADCA Design seminar covers all stages of a product lifecycle from development, design, specification, all the way to manufacturing and beyond. In the development stage of the seminar attendees will learn to identify when die casting is a good match for a specific product. In the design stage attendees will learn to optimize product performance through the features offered by die casting while simultaneously increasing product manufacturability. The specifications and properties of multiple die casting alloys will also be reviewed. In the manufacturing stage the NADCA Design Seminar will lead to greatly improved communication and understanding between the attendees and die casters who will make the final product. In addition Key die casting resources will be identified for future use by the seminar attendees. To learn more about having a NADCA Design Seminar at your company please visit: www.diecastingdesign.org/seminars
Web Based Die Casting Design Information
Instant die casting design information is available through the NADCA Design Website. Video modules are available on Product Development, Part Design, Alloys and the Die Casting Process. A link to Instant Support via e-mail and phone is provided. Connecting with a die caster is simplified through the Find a Die Caster Database. In additional valuable resources such as NADCA Standards, Commercial Practices Check Lists, Case Studies and a Die Casting Examples database are available. Connect now with all these valuable resources at: www.diecastingdesign.org
Chinese Knockoffs Move Beyond Gucci Bags
Notorious for copying items like handbags, videos, software, and bearings, Chinese manufacturers are getting even more audacious. They’re copying entire designs sold by some high-end Italian machinery makers and selling them in China at low prices, made possible by using lower cost components and avoiding import fees. In one case, one brazen company even attempted to register the original Italian manufacturer’s brand name here.
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Rapid cast prototypes enable parts to be assessed in a choice of alloys
When competition is fierce, the consequences of bringing a product to market late can be severe, with significant loss of market share and future profits. It is no surprise, therefore, to see the expanding use not just of rapid prototypes for investigating the form and fit of components but also components that are fully functional. Such rapid prototypes can provide high-strength, dimensionally accurate parts with all the features, operating capabilities, appearance and performance of the finished part. Because they can be delivered quickly and affordably, these rapid prototypes offer designers the means to compress development times and be more confident that the product will perform as intended for its required lifetime.
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Naked Die Casting Design
The new Kawasaki Z1000 2010 motorcycle features a “Super Naked” design that shows off mechanical parts rather than hiding them with a fairing. Kawasaki Engineers used multiple die castings to provide components that look aggressive and high tech while providing high performance functionality. Each die cast piece is functional and a work of art at the same time. Smooth, stylized, single piece die castings replaced multiple parts and welded assemblies in critical frame components. In addition components that were previously die cast easily accepted new as-cast visual styling such as the engine, brake calipers, and many other components. See the dramatic effect of the “Super Naked” design concept made possible by die cast parts in the Z1000 HD Video