Die Casting Zamak Glossary
Technical glossary of die casting and Zamak zinc alloy
A comprehensive reference of the main technical terms used in the die casting and micro die casting industry for zinc alloys (Zamak/Zama).
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Die casting | A casting process in which molten metal is injected under high pressure into a metal die. |
| Micro die casting | A variant of die casting for very small parts with extremely tight tolerances. |
| Zamak / Zinc alloy | A zinc-based alloy with aluminium, magnesium and copper, ideal for hot-chamber die casting. |
| Hot chamber | Injection system where the plunger is submerged in molten metal. Suitable for zinc alloys. |
| Cold chamber | Injection system where molten metal is ladled into the cylinder each cycle. For aluminium and brass. |
| Die / Mould | Steel tooling that defines the shape of the cast part. Guaranteed for 400,000 shots. |
| Runner / Sprue | System of channels through which molten metal reaches the die cavity. |
| Degating / Sprue removal | Operation to separate and remove the sprue and runners from the finished part. |
| Deburring | Removal of burrs formed along the parting lines of the die. |
| Tolerance | Maximum allowable dimensional deviation between nominal and actual part dimensions. |
| Surface roughness (Ra) | Measure of surface finish expressed as the arithmetic mean of surface irregularities. |
| Barrel / Vibratory finishing | Surface finishing process where parts are smoothed by friction in a vibrating container with abrasives. |
| Shot blasting / Sandblasting | Surface treatment projecting abrasive particles at high speed to clean and matt the surface. |
| Polishing | Mechanical or chemical treatment to achieve a bright, smooth surface. |
| Satin finish | Uniform matte surface finish achieved with fine brushes or abrasives. |
| Brushing | Surface treatment with metallic or abrasive brushes to remove impurities and create texture. |
| Powder coating | Electrostatic application of powder paint, then cured in an oven. High durability and quality. |
| Liquid painting | Application of liquid paint by brush, roller or spray. Available in matte, satin or gloss finish. |
| Primer | Preparatory layer applied before painting to improve adhesion and corrosion protection. |
| Electroplating | Electrochemical deposition of a metal layer on the part surface for protection or aesthetics. |
| Chrome plating | Galvanic deposition of chromium. High corrosion resistance and bright appearance. Widely used on zamak. |
| Nickel plating | Galvanic deposition of nickel. Used as an intermediate or final layer for protection and finish. |
| Copper plating | Galvanic deposition of copper, often used as an intermediate layer before nickel or chrome. |
| Zinc plating | Galvanic deposition of zinc for additional corrosion protection. |
| Passivation | Chemical treatment creating a protective layer on the surface to improve corrosion resistance. |
| Anti-corrosion treatment | Set of processes (electroplating, painting, passivation) to protect parts from oxidation. |
| Pad printing | Indirect printing technique transferring ink onto irregular surfaces using a silicone pad. |
| Screen printing | Printing technique using a screen to apply ink onto the part surface. |
| Laser marking | Permanent engraving on the surface using a laser beam. Used for logos, codes and trademarks. |
| Rapid prototyping | Fast production of prototypes via 3D printing (ABS) or CAD models to validate shape and function. |
| Quality control ISO 9001 | Certified quality management system that monitors and records every stage of production. |
| Production cycle | Complete sequence of operations from die design to delivery of the finished part. |
| Technical part | Die cast article for structural or functional applications with precise dimensional requirements. |
| Matte finish | Non-reflective surface achieved with painting, sandblasting or chemical treatments. |
| Gloss finish | Highly reflective surface achieved with mechanical or galvanic polishing. |
| Made in Italy | Production entirely made in Italy, guarantee of quality, precision and reliability. |
Need zamak die cast components?
Upload your technical drawing and receive a quote within 24/48 hours.