Plunger system and casting method for a die casting machine

A casting method for a die casting machine with a casting plunger system, said casting plunger system comprising:

• a stationary system part;
• and
• a system part which moves relative to the stationary system part in a respective casting cycle for introduction of melt material into a casting mould, the system part comprising a casting plunger, a casting plunger rod and a rod drive unit, and being configured to decelerate at an end of a mould filling phase of the casting cycle under the effect of pressure on the melt material,
• wherein the system part which moves includes a moved main system part and an additional solid mass unit which is arranged so as to be movable relative to the moved main system part and is configured to decelerate, at an end of the mould fill phase of the casting cycle, later by a predefinable delay time than the moved main system part,
• wherein the casting method comprises:
• detecting at least one casting parameter of a respective casting cycle;
• and
• variably adjusting a delay time for the relatively movably arranged additional mass unit for one or more future casting cycles depending on the at least one detected casting parameter.