How a Mount Is Made

Primary process: Die Casting. The full route, materials, tolerances and design tips for a mount, with an indicative cost.

Die CastingPrimary process
CastingFamily
8Route steps
+/-0.1mmTypical tol.

A mount is primarily made by Die Casting. Die casting forces molten metal, usually aluminium, zinc or magnesium, under high pressure into a hardened steel die. It produces thin-walled parts fast once the die is paid for. Below is the full route to make a mount, the materials it suits, the tolerances to expect and the main design points. The route is free, from the finder.

Step by step

How a mount is made

The usual route, raw material to finished part. The amber step is where the mount gets its basic shape.

  1. Alloy and tooling

    Choose the casting alloy for the mount and make the pattern or metal die that forms the cavity.
  2. Die Casting

    Melt the metal and force it into the die under pressure, then let the mount solidify and cool.
    Tooling High (steel die)   Tolerance ±0.1 to 0.4mm   Lead 6 to 10 weeks
  3. Fettling and cleaning

    Cut off the gates and risers, grind away the flash, and clean the raw casting.
  4. Machining

    Machine the mating faces, bores and datum surfaces to final tolerance: the as-cast surface is too rough for close fits.
    Tooling None   Tolerance ±0.125mm, to ±0.025mm   Lead 1 to 10 days
  5. Hole making

    Drill, ream and tap the fixing and functional holes.
    Tooling None   Tolerance ±0.05 to 0.2mm   Lead hours to days
  6. Heat treatment

    Stress-relieve or harden the mount to reach the strength and hardness the design needs.
    Tooling n/a   Tolerance can distort   Lead days
  7. Surface finish

    Plate, anodise or powder coat for corrosion resistance and appearance.
    Tooling Low   Tolerance adds 0.05 to 0.2mm   Lead days
  8. Inspection

    Check critical dimensions and, for any part that holds pressure, leak-test before it ships.

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Precision

Tolerances to expect

TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
+/-0.1mm typicalcoarsefine+/-1mm+/-0.1mm+/-0.01mm+/-0.005mm
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials

Materials for a mount

GradeWhy it suits this
Aluminium A380/ADC12Best castability, good strength
Zinc Zamak 3/5Low melt, fine detail, long die life
Magnesium AZ91Lightest structural
Design

Design tips

General pointers. The full design-for-manufacturing list for a mount is in the dossier.

  • Thick/uneven walls. Thin and even them.
  • Bosses without draft. Add draft.
Cost

What a mount should cost

Only pays above ~10k parts; below that, machine from billet or sand cast. The die is the whole economics.

PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
one-offat volumeVolume per order, low to highCost per part
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for a mount at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$240 to 540 per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER

Everything you need to quote and source it

The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on a mount and buy it well:

  • Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
  • Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
  • A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
  • The full DFM list and a ready-to-send RFQ draft

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See also: How Die Casting works and the full route for a mount in the finder.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How is a mount made?
A mount is primarily made by die casting. The route is: Alloy and tooling; Die Casting; Fettling and cleaning; Machining; Hole making; Heat treatment; Surface finish; Inspection.
What does a mount cost?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $240 to 540 per part at 1 off and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. A model estimate, not a quote.
What material is a mount made from?
Common choices are Aluminium A380/ADC12; Zinc Zamak 3/5; Magnesium AZ91.
What is the main process for a mount?
Die Casting. High-volume non-ferrous parts with thin walls, fine detail and a good as-cast finish, such as housings and brackets.
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