Structural

• AlMg or AlSiMg as common alloys.
• Checking of the alloy composition is required close to production.
• Filtering and impellering is of advantage.
• Lower content of oxides, carbides, and other contaminants increases the required mechanical properties of the component.
• Fast responses to deviations in the alloy composition reduces the scrap rate.

Metal feed.

• Optimized metal feed from the top.
• Evacuation-independent metal feed increases component quality.
• Metal feed into the shot sleeve with low turbulence provides structural advantages.
• Accuracy of metal feed is not coupled to evacuation.
• Low temperature loss prevents early solidification and produces a good structure.
• High and reproducible accuracy of metal feed translates into process consistency and therefore lower costs.
• Virtual absence of oxidation produces homogeneous structure and therefore assured higher ductility values.

Evacuation.

• Flexible evacuation concept matched to the requirements of the component reduces the production costs.
• Structural does not require any special-purpose machine, standard machines will suffice.
• Evacuation system operates with off-the-shelf valves or chillblocks.
• No quality deterioration due to preliminary evacuation in case of imprecise metal feed under vacuum.
• Vacuum level matched to the requirements of the component translates into lower unit costs.
• All Buhler standard machines with real-time control are suitable for the Structural process.
• Low evacuation capacity translates into lower capital investment and low unit costs.

Spraying, casting, and die.

• Precondition: a die design matched to the alloys and the component requirements.
• Plunger movement matched to component and die evacuation assures component quality.
• Die spraying matched to the component requirements reduces necessary operating supplies.
• The right cooling concept has a decisive impact on the solidification process and thereby also on the component quality.
• Real-time control means stable shot parameters and process consistency and therefore lower scrap rate.
• Minimized gas porosity thanks to matched die spraying process assures heat treatment.

Heat treatment and joining.

• The right matching of alloy, process steps, and heat treatment produces the desired component quality.
• Alloy selection and the right process steps assure cost-efficient weldability of components.
• Alloy selection and the right process steps: the most efficient road to ductile components.
• The Structural process may have a beneficial impact on the heat treatment stage and helps reduce process costs.