Aluminum Gravity Casting
Our primary process. Automated permanent-mold gravity casting with A356 and ZL114 alloys. Parts up to 1.2 m, T6 heat treatable, and supported by production monitoring.
What gravity casting is best for
Gravity casting excels at dense, structural, T6-friendly, and pressure-tight aluminum parts where wall thickness runs 5–15 mm and porosity control matters. Compared to high-pressure die casting, the cycle is slower but the resulting microstructure is denser, fully T6-compatible, and better suited to thick sections and leak-test requirements. It is often reviewed for pump housings, valve bodies, structural brackets, and industrial equipment housings in automotive supply-chain, EV drivetrain, and industrial OEM RFQs.
Why Gravity Casting
6 Reasons Engineers Choose
Gravity Casting
Superior Mechanical Properties
Gravity casting produces a denser, lower-porosity microstructure than die casting. Combined with T6 heat treatment, A356 parts achieve 230–310 MPa UTS — ideal for structural and safety-critical applications.
Large Part Capability
Our process accommodates parts up to 1.2 m in maximum dimension. We have active production cases including intake manifolds at 1.2m × 0.5m — a capability few gravity casting facilities can match.
Controlled Process Window
Fill rate, mold temperature, and solidification are held to a defined process window and monitored against it, so anomalies are caught before they become defects. Stable, repeatable cycles reduce idle time and improve throughput.
Cost-Effective Tooling
Gravity casting molds can reduce upfront tooling investment versus high-pressure die casting when the part geometry and volume fit the process. Tooling timing is confirmed during RFQ review.
T6 Heat Treatable
Unlike die casting alloys, A356 and ZL114 are fully heat treatable. T6 treatment (solution + aging) significantly enhances tensile strength, yield strength, and fatigue resistance.
Pressure-Tight Castings
Low porosity gravity cast parts pass pressure tests for pneumatic and hydraulic applications. Suitable for valve bodies, pump housings, and other pressure-critical components.
Our Process
From Design to
Finished Part
Mold Design & Tooling
DFM review, gating system design, thermal analysis. Tooling fabricated from H13 tool steel.
Melt & Alloy Control
Oxford spectrometer verifies alloy composition before each pour. Degassing treatment for porosity control.
Automated Gravity Pour
Automated tilt-pour machines maintain consistent fill speed and temperature. AI monitors every pour cycle.
Controlled Solidification
Cooling rates optimized per geometry. Directional solidification for critical sections.
Heat Treatment
In-house T5/T6 treatment. Temperature-controlled furnaces, quench tanks, aging ovens.
Machining & Finishing
CNC machining to final dimensions. Deburring, shot blasting, surface treatment as required.
Inspection & CMM
X-ray NDT, CMM dimensional check, mechanical property testing, and traceability planning aligned with buyer quality requirements.
Part family suitability
| Part family | Alloy fit | Wall (mm) | Heat treat | Inspection priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pump housings | A356 / ZL114 | 5–12 | T6 | Leak + CMM |
| Valve bodies | A356 / ZL114 | 4–10 | T6 | Leak + dimensional |
| Brackets / structural | A356 | 6–15 | T6 | Dimensional + UT |
| Industrial equipment housings | A356 / ZL114 | 6–20 | T5/T6 | Dimensional |
| Reducer / gearbox housings | A356 | 8–15 | T6 | Bearing-seat CMM |
Gravity vs Low-Pressure vs HPDC
How to choose the right casting route for your program.
| Criterion | Gravity | Low-Pressure | HPDC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall thickness sweet-spot | 5–15 mm | 4–12 mm | 1–4 mm |
| Cycle time | Minutes | Minutes | Seconds |
| Porosity risk | Low | Very low | Medium-high |
| T6 friendliness | Yes | Yes | Usually no |
| Tooling cost | Medium | Medium-high | High |
| Best for | Structural, pressure-tight | High-density, sealing | High-volume thin-wall |
Related Resources
Go Deeper into Gravity Casting
Sourcing Categories
Technical Articles
Ready to Discuss Your Part?
Send drawings, alloy targets, volume, machining scope, and inspection requirements for gravity-casting process review.
Get a Quote