151 Drags

Chapter Twenty
DRAGS
151
Fig. 20.1. Typical drag situation.
A. DESCRIPTION AND RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS
Drags are very similar to solder, except that they can be caused by other
die surface conditions. The die surface can have undercuts or surface rough-
ness that will cause some of the cast metal to stick to part of the die, and
this will cause some deformation of the casting as it is ejected. Fig. 20.1
shows some typical drag marks.
The most common situation is an undercut in the die. This can be a tool-
making error, or more commonly, a section of the die that is eroded from the
action of the flowing metal (this is especially severe in aluminum).
152 NADCA DIE CASTING DEFECTS
Another cause can be solder, or carbon buildup on the die, causing
drags on the surface of the casting. See the defects listed under these head-
ings for corrections for these problems.
Actions that should be considered:
If a new die that hasnt been run before (or hasnt been run very long),
look carefully for undercuts or tool marks that can initiate a build up
and cause drags
If a new die, check draft angles to be sure they meet NADCA criteria,
especially for short walls
If the die has been run for some time, look for heat checking that starts
the drag
If the die has been run for some time, check for erosion or corrosion
that is causing an undercut
Look for die opening or ejection problems see corrective actions
under bending or cracks for a list of corrections that would apply here
look especially for worn ejector guide systems
If the problem is associated with a core, the core may have been mush-
roomed on the end and is dragging when the casting is ejected
If the problem is associated with a slide action, the slide may have
flash under it or has worn enough so it can shift out of line under the
force of the metal pressure, and cause drags when it withdraws
For correction of a long standing drag problem, investigate lowering
the temperature at the point where the drags occur with spray, water
cooling, or high heat transfer material