The Basics of Cold Chamber Die Castings. Cold chamber die castings are a method of die casting that utilized, as an alternative of a hot chamber, a cold one. When starting the procedure, the liquefied metal is taken from the …
Continue reading
2026 Metal Caster Vendor Dinner
The 2026 AFS NADCA Vendors Night is in only 5 weeks on Thursday, March 12th! Mark your calendars and register today! Last year we had record attendance and this year promises to be another well-attended industry gathering. We have limited space and there are only a handful of vendor tables still available.

DATE: Thursday, March 12, 2026
LOCATION: Rio Hondo Event Center and Golf Club, 10627 Old River School Road, Downey, CA 90241
REGISTRATION: Call Laura
EARLY BIRD: Save $30/person and $300/vendor table by registering early
All participants will enjoy an exciting evening of networking, food, prizes, scholarships, awards, and vendor displays!
NEW for 2026!:
Starting in 2026, the annual AFS/NADCA Vendor’s Night and Education Night will be held together. Visit table top displays form the industry’s leading vendors to see their latest products and services. The evening will also include the annual high school and college student Casting Contest awards and scholarships.
Contact me with any questions. I look forward to seeing you next month!
Laura Adams Hoppe
NADCA Chapter 30
2971 Warren Lane
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
916-933-3062
Key Differences Between #3 and #5 Zinc Die Casting Alloys
In zinc die casting, two alloys dominate: Zinc Alloy #3 (commonly known as Zamak 3) and Zinc Alloy #5 (Zamak 5). These high-purity zinc-based materials, primarily composed of zinc with about 4% aluminum and small amounts of magnesium, are essential for producing precise, complex parts in industries ranging from automotive to consumer electronics. While both offer excellent castability, low melting points, and superior surface finishes, their differences in composition drive distinct performance characteristics.
#3 Zinc Alloy vs #5 Zinc Alloy

Die Casting Part Prices
The primary distinction lies in copper content. Zinc Alloy #3 has minimal copper (typically less than 0.03%), making it the most widely used alloy in North America—accounting for over 70% of zinc die castings. Zinc Alloy #5, prevalent in Europe, incorporates 0.7-1.1% copper, boosting certain mechanical properties at the expense of others.
Mechanically, #5 outperforms #3 in strength and hardness. Typical tensile strength for #3 is around 283 MPa, compared to 310-317 MPa for #5. Zinc #5 also exhibits higher yield strength (around 240 MPa vs. 221 MPa for zinc #3) and Brinell hardness (90-91 vs. 82). These enhancements make zinc #5 ideal for high-stress applications, such as automotive components, hardware fittings, and structural parts requiring wear resistance and creep performance. However, zinc #3 provides better ductility and elongation, reducing brittleness and improving performance in applications needing flexibility or impact resistance.
In Zinc Diecastings, Castability favors zinc #3, which boasts superior fluidity for thin-walled, intricate geometries with minimal porosity. zinc #5’s copper addition can slightly increase porosity if not tightly controlled, though it offers marginally better plating and finishing qualities. Dimensional stability remains excellent for both, with zinc #3 holding a slight edge in long-term precision.
Cost is another factor: Zinc#3 is generally more economical due to lower copper levels and broader availability, making it the default choice for general-purpose components like electrical housings, toys, and decorative hardware. Zinc#5’s premium pricing (often 5-10% higher) is justified in demanding scenarios.
Corrosion resistance is comparable, though zinc#3 performs better in copper-sensitive environments. Both alloys excel in surface treatments like chrome plating, painting, and powder coating.
For a Zinc Die Casting Company Alloy #3 remains the versatile, cost-effective standard for most applications, while Zinc Die Casting Alloy #5 provides enhanced strength and durability where performance demands it. Choosing between them hinges on balancing mechanical needs, design complexity, and budget in modern manufacturing.
Permalink: https://www.kineticdiecasting.com/kdc/key-differences-between-3-and-5-zinc-die-casting-alloys/
|
Kinetic Die Casting Company, Inc. 6918 Beck Avenue, North Hollywood, California USA 91605 E-mail sales@kineticdiecasting.com (818) 982-9200 California Die Castings – Die Casting Photos – Technical FAQ – Die Casting Prices – Kinetic Die Casting Company What is Die Casting ? – Why Use Die Casting – Kinetic Abilities – Die Casting Offshore ? – Sand casting prices and die castings – Die Casting Tooling – Kinetic Newsletter |
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe here.
Aluminum Die Casting Parts vs. Zinc Die Casting Parts: Key Differences
Die casting is a high-pressure manufacturing process used to produce precise metal components with complex geometries. Aluminum and zinc are two of the most common alloys employed, but the resulting parts differ significantly due to their inherent material properties, casting behaviors, and performance characteristics.
Aluminum vs Zinc

Die Casting Part Prices
Weight and Density — Aluminum die cast parts are significantly lighter, with a density of about 2.7 g/cm³ compared to zinc alloy’s 7.1 g/cm. This makes aluminum ideal for applications where reducing weight is critical, such as automotive components, aerospace parts, and electronics housings. Zinc parts, being heavier, provide greater stability and impact resistance, suiting structural or vibration-dampening uses.
Strength and Mechanical Properties — Aluminum alloys offer superior strength-to-weight ratios and better performance at elevated temperatures, with higher tensile strength and the ability to be heat-treated for enhanced durability. Zinc parts excel in ductility, impact toughness, and hardness, often outperforming aluminum in sheer impact resistance despite lower overall strength.
Precision and Design Capabilities — Zinc’s excellent fluidity and lower melting point (~419°C vs. aluminum’s ~660°C) allow for thinner walls (as low as 0.6 mm), tighter tolerances, and finer details. This makes zinc parts better for intricate, small-to-medium-sized components with high cosmetic requirements. Aluminum parts can achieve thin walls but typically require thicker sections and are suited to larger, more robust designs.
Die Castings Surface Finish and Aesthetics — Zinc castings generally provide a smoother, more uniform surface with fewer defects like porosity, making them easier and more cost-effective to plate, polish, or paint for decorative or high-quality finishes (e.g., chrome-plated hardware). Aluminum surfaces are often rougher and more porous, requiring additional post-processing for comparable aesthetics.
Corrosion Resistance and Durability — Both are corrosion-resistant, but zinc offers slightly better natural resistance in harsh environments. Aluminum parts excel in high-temperature applications and have excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, often used for heat sinks or enclosures.
Production and Cost Factors — Zinc’s lower melting point enables hot-chamber die casting, faster cycle times, and much longer die life (often over 1 million shots vs. aluminum’s 100,000–150,000). This reduces tooling costs for high-volume runs. Aluminum uses cold-chamber machines, which are slower and more energy-intensive but support larger parts. Material costs vary, but zinc parts can be more expensive per unit due to higher density.
Aluminum die casting parts shine in lightweight, high-strength, and thermally demanding applications, while zinc die casting parts excels in precision, intricate details, superior finishes, and cost-effective high-volume production of smaller components. The choice depends on the specific requirements for weight, strength, aesthetics, and production economics.
|
Kinetic Die Casting Company, Inc. 6918 Beck Avenue, North Hollywood, California USA 91605 E-mail sales@kineticdiecasting.com (818) 982-9200 California Die Castings – Die Casting Photos – Technical FAQ – Die Casting Prices – Kinetic Die Casting Company What is Die Casting ? – Why Use Die Casting – Kinetic Abilities – Die Casting Offshore ? – Sand casting prices and die castings – Die Casting Tooling – Kinetic Newsletter |
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe here.
Kinetic Die Casting: A Trusted Aluminum Castings Supplier in the USA
Kinetic Die Casting is a leading aluminum castings supplier in the United States, providing high-quality aluminum die cast parts to manufacturers across a wide range of industries. As an American-based company, Kinetic Die Casting focuses on precision, reliability, and responsive service, offering customers a dependable domestic source for aluminum cast components. By keeping production in the USA, the company helps customers reduce risk, improve lead times, and maintain consistent quality.
Aluminum Castings Company California
Aluminum die casting is an efficient manufacturing process that produces complex metal parts with excellent dimensional accuracy and repeatability. Molten aluminum is injected into precision steel dies under high pressure, allowing detailed features such as ribs, bosses, thin walls, and mounting points to be formed directly in the casting. This near net shape capability minimizes secondary machining and assembly, helping customers reduce overall production costs while achieving strong, lightweight components.

Die Casting Part Prices
As a U.S. aluminum castings supplier, Kinetic Die Casting supports customers from early design stages through full production. The company works closely with engineering and purchasing teams to review part designs, recommend improvements for manufacturability, and optimize tooling for long-term production. This collaborative approach often leads to improved part performance, extended die life, and smoother manufacturing transitions.
One of Kinetic Die Casting’s key strengths is its ability to handle both low- and medium-volume production efficiently. Unlike many overseas suppliers that require large minimum order quantities, Kinetic Die Casting can produce small production runs, prototypes, and specialty parts without excessive lead times. For many projects, aluminum castings can be produced and shipped within weeks of receiving a purchase order, making the company a strong partner for time-sensitive programs.
Quality assurance is a critical part of Kinetic Die Casting’s operations. Aluminum castings are produced using controlled processes and inspected to meet customer specifications and engineering drawings. The company offers a range of secondary services to deliver finished or near-finished parts, including trimming, impregnation to seal porosity, machining, surface treatments, and complete inspection. For customers that require domestic sourcing documentation, Kinetic Die Casting provides certification of U.S. manufacture with production shipments.
Kinetic Die Casting Company serves a diverse set of industries, including industrial equipment, electronics, hardware, defense-related manufacturing, and commercial products. This broad experience allows the company to understand the unique requirements of different applications, from structural strength and thermal performance to cosmetic appearance and corrosion resistance.
Aluminum Castings in USA
Choosing Kinetic Die Casting as an aluminum castings supplier in the USA provides customers with clear advantages over offshore sourcing. Domestic production offers shorter lead times, easier communication, consistent quality standards, and predictable pricing in U.S. dollars. Customers also benefit from reduced inventory requirements and greater supply chain stability.
Aluminum Castings Supplier
With a commitment to American manufacturing and customer-focused service, Kinetic Die Casting continues to be a reliable aluminum castings supplier for companies nationwide. Through technical expertise, flexible production capabilities, and a focus on quality, Kinetic Die Casting delivers aluminum die cast solutions that support long-term manufacturing success.
|
Kinetic Die Casting Company, Inc. 6918 Beck Avenue, North Hollywood, California USA 91605 E-mail sales@kineticdiecasting.com (818) 982-9200 California Die Castings – Die Casting Photos – Technical FAQ – Die Casting Prices – Kinetic Die Casting Company What is Die Casting ? – Why Use Die Casting – Kinetic Abilities – Die Casting Offshore ? – Sand casting prices and die castings – Die Casting Tooling – Kinetic Newsletter |
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe here.
Hutchins Manufacturing Auction
Hutchins Manufacturing Company 12326 Denholm Drive, El Monte, CA 91732 (https://hutchinsmfg.com/).
Kinetic Die Casting Company is losing another customer that is closing their California manufacturing operations, Hutchins Manufacturing Company. We made aluminum die casting parts for them for about a year. This was a long standing, family owned, manufacturing company that produced hand sanders. We visited Hutchins on January 21, 2026 to confirm that everything was being sold at their auction on February 3, 2026. We are told the auction is due to the company relocating operations out of state.
Hutchins Manufacturing is currently having a timed online industrial auction for its manufacturing equipment. The company specializes in producing high-quality pneumatic sanders and surface preparation tools (they’re a long-established, family-owned business making tools in the USA since 1951).
Key auction details:
– Auction type: Timed online auction (bidding is online only).
– Items: CNC vertical machining centers, turning centers, plastic injection molders, and other equipment related to their CNC manufacturing of industrial sanders.
– Location: 12326 Denholm Drive, El Monte, CA 91732 (preview/inspection available).
– Inspection: Monday, February 2, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT (or by appointment).
– Bidding period: Started January 27, 2026; closes Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT.
– Main auction page: https://tauberaronsinc.com/events/cnc-manufacturer-of-industrial-sanders
– Bidspotter catalog: https://www.bidspotter.com/en-us/auction-catalogues/tauber-arons/catalogue-id-bsctau10276 (for viewing lots and registering to bid).
– Brochure/PDF: Available on the Tauber-Arons site for full details.
We are sad to see another of our customers closing their doors in California. We hope that they recover in another state. We are still here and remain in North Hollywood, California. We are looking for more customers to fill in the gaps of losing manufacturing company customers.
North Hollywood California’s best die casting company, Kinetic Die Casting, was established in 1994 near Los Angeles, California at the current location.
Kinetic Die Casting Company is an American Jobshop Die Casting Company in California.
A jobshop die casting company produces die casting parts for OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) for their metal products.
A Die Casting Company uses a process in which molten metal alloys are injected with a die casting machine under force using considerable pressure into a steel die casting mold or die casting die to produce metal die casting parts.

Kinetic Die Casting Company
6918 Beck Avenue North Hollywood, California USA
sales@kineticdiecasting.com
91605 United States of America
800-524-8083 or 818-982-9200
Sign Up for our Newsletter
Die Castings Part Prices Form
