News from Fenco Aldridge

Citation

(1998), "News from Fenco Aldridge", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 50 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.1998.01850fab.018

News from Fenco Aldridge

News from Fenco Aldridge

Keywords: Die-casting, Fenco Aldridge

Die-casters can achieve improved surface finish on spark eroded metals thanks to a chemical process supplied by Fenco Aldridge. The Milton Keynes-based manufacturer of lubricants and die release agents has reported that Chemfile, produced in association with BNF Metals Technology Centre, is already seeing successful application by a number of diemakers and mouldmakers in the die-casting and plastic moulding industries. Chemfile is a chemical polish which smooths the surface of EDM machined die steels, significantly reducing the amount of hand polishing which is otherwise necessary. In the Chemfile process, the surface of the die is conditioned in an acidic solution in a controlled fashion, meaning that even the most inaccessible areas can be easily smoothed to a superior surface finish. Areas not requiring treatment can be easily masked using modelling clay. In addition, hard surface scale produced by electro-discharge machining is completely dissolved, leaving a surface suitable for texturing, while on areas of deep ribs, application of Chemfile alone can allow successful ejection of intricate parts.

Chemfile is suitable for all common die steels such as H13, EN30B and P20.

Die-casters can also achieve a superior synthetic die bloom on casting dies and cores thanks to an innovative chemical process supplied by Fenco Aldridge. They report that Diebloom, also produced in association with BNF Metals Technology, is already seeing successful application in a number of foundries. Die bloom is used in the production of die-cast components to produce a highly tenacious synthetic bloom on the die surface. The product simulates the natural bloom in both composition and structure and allows castings to be produced with superior surface finish over very short running-in times, reducing metal pick-up and galvanising on the die surface. Since the installation of new or cleaned dies on a pressure die-casting machine can mean an extended run of scrap castings with inferior surface finish, the process of reaching acceptable quality can take hours. However, the diebloom produces a chemical solution designed to shorten the process, with proven success. Fenco Aldridge claim that extensive foundry trials in the UK have shown considerable benefit to 35 per cent of all dies and proven benefit to a further 35 per cent. One foundry reduced running-in cycles from 2,500 to 12 using diebloom. The Diebloom process is equally suitable in aluminium or zinc applications, including specific treatment of cores, where a lack of cooling channels may result in local pick-up.

Futher details from: Simon Hinson, Fenco Aldridge (Barton) Ltd, Willen Works, Willen Road, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire MK16 0DF. Tel: +44 (0)1908 614646; Fax: +44 (0)1908 210482.