Die casting plays role in cost-saving effort for control indicator

摘要

While casting about for a way to grant the U.S. Department of Defense's wish for cost savings associated with an avionics control indicator it was supplying, ViaSat Inc. of Carlsbad, CA, ended up close to home with a company called Alloy Die Casting (ADC) about an hour's drive north. ViaSat had been machining all five of the parts individually, maintaining the close tolerances and smooth finish required to pass the customer's 100% testing requirements. The indicator assembly involves a heat sink, front panel or bezel, access door, and two door pivots. A major part of the challenge for ViaSat was that volumes for the assembly are low-about 2000 parts per year.