Types of Die Casting: HPDC, LPDC & Gravity

Die casting is not a single process. There are several distinct types classified by the method used to fill the die, the pressure applied, and the alloys processed. Understanding the differences helps engineers and buyers select the right process for their application.

---

Classification by Pressure

1. High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC)

The dominant commercial die casting process globally. Molten metal is injected into a hardened steel die at pressures of 10-75 MPa using a hydraulic plunger system. Injection velocity at the gate is 10-100 m/s, filling the cavity in milliseconds.

• Best for: Aluminum, zinc, and magnesium alloys at volumes above 10,000 pieces/year
• Advantages: Fastest cycle time, thinnest walls, tightest tolerances
• Limitations: Gas porosity from turbulent fill; restricted heat treatment

2. Low Pressure Die Casting (LPDC)

Molten metal is pushed upward from a pressurized holding furnace into the die cavity at pressures of 0.03-1.1 MPa using pressurized gas (usually dry air or nitrogen). The slow, laminar fill minimizes turbulence and gas entrapment. See the dedicated low pressure die casting guide for process detail and KastMfg applications.

• Best for: Large aluminum parts requiring T6 heat treatment (automotive wheels, structural nodes)
• Advantages: Very low porosity; T6 heat treatment possible; good mechanical properties
• Limitations: Slower cycle time; higher equipment cost; limited to aluminum and some magnesium alloys

3. Gravity Die Casting (Permanent Mold Casting)

No pressure applied -metal fills the steel die under gravity. Also known as permanent mold casting or tilt casting.

• Best for: Medium volumes (500-10,000/year), parts requiring T6 treatment, thick-wall aluminum parts
• Advantages: Lowest porosity, cheapest tooling among die casting types, T6 possible
• Limitations: Slowest production rate; limited to walls >= mm; less dimensional precision

---

Classification by Injection System

4. Hot Chamber Die Casting

The injection system (gooseneck and plunger) is permanently submerged in the molten metal. At each cycle, metal is automatically drawn into the gooseneck and injected.

• Alloys: Zinc (Zamak 3, Zamak 5, ZA-8), tin, lead -low melting point metals only. Aluminum would corrode the submerged steel components.
• Advantages: Fully automated; fast cycle time (15-25 s); low metal oxidation
• Typical machine tonnage: 80T -400T

5. Cold Chamber Die Casting

The injection plunger is external to the furnace. Molten metal is ladled manually or automatically into a shot sleeve for each injection cycle.

• Alloys: Aluminum, magnesium, copper (any alloy that would corrode hot-chamber systems)
• Advantages: Suitable for high-temperature alloys; higher injection pressures achievable
• Typical machine tonnage: 160T -6,000T+
• Limitation: Slightly longer cycle time due to metal ladling step

---

Advanced Variants

6. Vacuum-Assisted Die Casting (VADC)

A vacuum is applied to the die cavity immediately before injection in a standard HPDC machine, evacuating air before the metal arrives. Reduces gas porosity by 60-70%.

• Best for: Hydraulic and pneumatic parts (pressure tightness required), parts subject to T6 heat treatment, safety-critical structural components
• KastMfg offers VADC on dedicated machines for qualifying programs

7. Squeeze Die Casting

Metal is injected at very low velocity and very high pressure (100-150 MPa final squeeze), combining features of forging and casting. Produces near-zero porosity.

• Best for: High-strength structural components; typically aluminum
• Limitation: Complex tooling; slower cycle time; specialized equipment

8. Semi-Solid Die Casting (Thixocasting / Rheocasting)

Metal is processed in a semi-solid state (30-40% solid fraction) rather than fully liquid. Reduces shrinkage and gas porosity significantly.

• Best for: Complex aluminum structural parts needing high mechanical properties
• Niche process: fewer suppliers; higher material and process cost
• Deep dive: see the thixocasting guide for the full process and alloy comparison

9. Centrifugal Die Casting

The mold rotates and centrifugal force - not a plunger - distributes and feeds the metal. Produces dense, low-porosity castings for rotationally symmetric parts. See the centrifugal die casting guide.

• Best for: Pipes, cylinder liners, bushings, rings, wheels
• Limitation: unsuitable for complex non-symmetric geometry or thin-wall detail

---

Summary Comparison Table

Type	Pressure	Alloys	Min Wall	Porosity	Best Volume	Heat Treatment
HPDC (cold chamber)	35-75 MPa	Al, Mg	1.2 mm	Moderate	10,000+	Restricted
HPDC (hot chamber)	7-35 MPa	Zn	0.4 mm	Moderate	10,000+	Not needed
LPDC	0.03-1.1 MPa	Al	3 mm	Low	5,000+	Yes (T6)
Gravity	None	Al, some Mg	3 mm	Very low	500-10,000	Yes (T6)
Vacuum HPDC	35-75 MPa + vacuum	Al, Mg	1.2 mm	Very low	10,000+	Yes (T6)
Squeeze	100-150 MPa	Al	2 mm	Near zero	1,000+	Yes

---

Which Type Is Right for Your Part?

Choose HPDC if: high volume, thin walls, tight tolerances, and aluminum/zinc/magnesium alloy. Choose Vacuum HPDC if: HPDC geometry but pressure-tight or heat-treatable requirements. Choose LPDC if: large aluminum wheel or structural node requiring T6 treatment. Choose Gravity if: medium volume, thick-wall aluminum, T6 required, tooling budget is limited.

Not sure which process fits your part? Send your drawing to KastMfg for a free process recommendation.

Process Guides

• What is die casting — process fundamentals for new buyers
• Die casting process — end-to-end process overview
• Die casting steps — step-by-step from metal to finished part
• High pressure die casting — HPDC capability and parameters
• Hot chamber die casting — zinc and magnesium alloys
• Cold chamber die casting — aluminum and brass alloys
• Low pressure die casting — wheels and structural parts
• Gravity die casting — permanent mold process
• Squeeze casting — high-integrity semi-solid route
• Thixocasting — semi-solid casting for high-integrity parts
• Centrifugal die casting — rotationally symmetric parts
• Vacuum die casting — low-porosity structural parts

Process Comparisons & Deep Dives

• die casting trimming
• giga casting
• die casting vs gravity casting
• die casting vs sand casting
• die casting vs forging
• die casting vs injection molding
• die casting vs extrusion
• die casting vs stamping
• die casting vs machined aluminum
• die casting vs metal injection molding
• die casting glossary
• die casting advantages and disadvantages
• die casting machine
• die casting vs investment casting
• investment casting - lost-wax steel/stainless/complex Al
• lost wax casting
• investment casting services
• hot chamber vs cold chamber die casting

---

KastMfg Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Email: casting@kastdiecast.com | Phone: +86 138 1403 4409 No.6, Rungu Road, Nanjing, China