Manufacturers use different types of forging processes in order to create the metal products their clients require. The forging process has four main types including impression die forging, cold forging, open die forging, and seamless rolled ring forging. Take a closer look at each one of them here:
The Main Types of Forging Processes
Impression Die Forging
This method involves placing a precut profile of the required component between two dies called tooling. The dies press the metal parts that can range from a few ounces to about 60,000 pounds. Furthermore, the process can work well with various kinds of materials such as titanium, aluminum, steel, and other alloys. It’s able to create 3D shapes that are as heavy as 25 tons or even more.
Cold Forging
Although most forging methods are performed with the application of heat that reaches temperatures of up to 2300˚F, this variation of forging uses temperatures that can reach several hundred degrees. Furthermore, cold forging covers a variety of processes such as cold drawing, bending, cold heading, extrusions, and coining in order to produce a diverse array of metal shapes.
Open Die Forging
The key to this method is not to confine the metal preform between flat dies during the forging process. The desired shape is achieved by progressively working the starting stock. In terms of size limitations, the produced parts are only limited to the starting stock’s size. Any forgeable ferrous, as well as a non-ferrous alloy, can be forged through this process. Lastly, the process can produce round, rectangular, square, hexagonal bars, hollow cylinders, ring-shaped parts, and more.
Seamless Rolled Ring Forging
This process is performed by piercing a hole at the center of a round pre-form metal to create a donut shape before it is rolled, squeezed or pounded into a ring. It’s possible to produce rings with diameters that can range from a few inches up to about 30 feet. If you want to know more about seamless rolled rolling and the other types of forging processes, contact Ferralloy, Inc. today.