{"id":7198,"date":"2026-07-19T01:56:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T05:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fabit3d.com\/knowledge-base\/die-casting\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T06:59:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T10:59:53","slug":"die-casting","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/fabit3d.com\/fr\/knowledge-base\/die-casting\/","title":{"rendered":"What is die casting?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Die casting is a high-volume metal-forming process in which molten metal is forced under high pressure into a reusable steel mould, called a die, to produce large numbers of identical metal parts quickly and consistently.<\/strong> It is the classic industrial route to mass-produced metal objects, and it has a specific place in the world of awards: large runs of identical medals, coins and standardised trophy components. At Fabit, we understand exactly where die casting belongs and where our in-house 3D printing serves a bespoke client better, so we can advise honestly rather than defaulting to one method.<\/p>\n

How die casting works<\/h2>\n

A die caster starts with a precision-machined steel mould made of two halves that lock together, leaving a cavity in the shape of the part. Molten metal, typically a zinc, aluminium or magnesium alloy, is injected into this cavity under high pressure and held while it solidifies. The die opens, the part is ejected, and the cycle repeats, often in seconds. The same die can produce tens of thousands or even millions of near-identical parts before it wears out.<\/p>\n

Because the die is machined from hardened steel to tight tolerances, die-cast parts are dimensionally consistent and can carry fine surface detail. But that die is expensive and time-consuming to make, which defines the entire economics of the process.<\/p>\n

The economics: why volume is everything<\/h2>\n

Die casting front-loads its cost into the tooling. A steel die can represent a substantial investment and weeks of lead time before a single part is made. Once it exists, however, the per-unit cost is very low. This creates a clear rule: die casting only makes sense at high volume, where the tooling cost is spread across thousands of parts. For a run of ten bespoke awards it is entirely the wrong tool, but for fifty thousand commemorative medals it is close to unbeatable. Fabit’s role is to tell clients which side of that line their project falls on.<\/p>\n

Die casting versus 3D printing and investment casting<\/h2>\n

Each process occupies a distinct niche:<\/p>\n