A runner-optimization design study of a die-casting die

Die casters usually carry out a die casting test before producing new castings. At the die-casting test stage, the runner part is always repeatedly corrected, which leads to a lengthened processing time and increased processing cost. In order to solve this problem, research studies of the runner and die body parts have been performed separately during the present experiments. For the runner part, different insert runner blocks have been made and a die-casting teat was designed according to the experiment design method. In addition, an abductive network for the modeling of die casting has been built. The abductive network is composed of a number of functional nodes. Once the die-casting parameters (high-speed injector position, runner injection angle, runner sectional ratio) are given, the die-casting performance (runner residual stress and temperature of the point near the die cavity surface) can be predicted accurately by this network. The optimal die-casting parameters can be searched for by a simulation annealing optimization algorithm with a performance index. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.