Marketplace Pulse: Forging RFQs

Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces. The forces are delivered with a drop hammer or a pressed die. Forging often creates stronger more fatigue resistant parts than other methods due to the compressive forces which align the grain structure of the metals. The grain of the material is aligned to the form of the part, which increased the strength.

Closed die forging (impression die) involves a hammer or press which compresses the metal billet between two dies that contain a precut profile of the desired part. The dies are closed by the compressive force which caused the material to fill the mold. Closed die forged parts are typically “near-net shape” and require little machining after.

Open die forging dies do not enclose the work piece and are flatter in form. The work piece is repositioned by an operator to achieve the desired form. This process can require parts that need a good amount of post processing machining afterward.

Upset forging (Heading) is performed on bar stock. Upset forging compresses the length of the stock and increases its cross-section. Upset forging refines the mechanical properties by re-orienting the grain flow to the shape of the tool. This results in a component which is inherently stronger than that which has been cast, welded, or machined. Upset dies can have several stations, and the parts are formed progressively by moving the parts from one die station or cavity to another until the forging is complete.