CF ChatterFix
Preventive Maintenance

Die-Cast Shot Count & Die Thermal Check

A structural die lives and dies by shot count and by the thermal map the process was released against. The machine will keep cycling after the die is tired, and the scrap shows up as porosity and dimensional drift rather than as an alarm. The counter is the maintenance schedule.

Interval Weekly
Est. Duration 2.0 hrs
Steps 6
Applies To High-Rate Vehicle Manufacturing

The Procedure

The steps ChatterFix schedules for this PM. Every step is a checkable item on the work order — a technician can speak their way through it without touching a keyboard.

  1. Record the shot counter and compare it to the die's released life limit
  2. With the machine locked out and the die open, inspect parting line and slides
  3. Check die thermal zones against the released temperature map — do not retune it
  4. Inspect shot sleeve, plunger and lube spray for scoring and blockage
  5. Verify vacuum and die-close interlocks on a dry cycle with no metal in the sleeve
  6. Pull the cell from service if the shot count or a thermal zone is outside its limit

Why This PM Exists

A structural die lives and dies by shot count and by the thermal map the process was released against. The machine will keep cycling after the die is tired, and the scrap shows up as porosity and dimensional drift rather than as an alarm. The counter is the maintenance schedule.

What Skipping It Looks Like

Crews wait for a visible crack or a sudden short shot. By then the die is already making parts that pass a glance and fail later, and the replacement is a long-lead tool, not a bin item.

Setting the interval

Check on shots, with a weekly calendar fallback so an unread counter cannot hide a die that is past its released life. A dry-cycle interlock test is part of the inspection. Transferring metal is not.

Equipment This Covers

Common Questions

How often should this PM run?
Weekly. Check on shots, with a weekly calendar fallback so an unread counter cannot hide a die that is past its released life. A dry-cycle interlock test is part of the inspection. Transferring metal is not.
How long does it take?
Budget about 2.0 hours for a technician working to the standard procedure. ChatterFix uses that estimate for capacity planning, then learns your plant's actual time from completed work orders.
What happens if we skip it?
Crews wait for a visible crack or a sudden short shot. By then the die is already making parts that pass a glance and fail later, and the replacement is a long-lead tool, not a bin item.
Can I use this checklist in ChatterFix?
Yes — this exact procedure ships in the High-Rate Vehicle Manufacturing industry pack. Pick your industry at signup and it is scheduled on the right assets automatically, with no configuration.

Related Procedures

Stop Retyping Your PM Library

This procedure — and every other PM for your industry — is already built into ChatterFix. Pick your industry and it lands on the right equipment, on the right interval, in about three minutes.