Here Are The Three Most Common Forging Processes Used By Forging Factories
Here Are The Three Most Common Forging Processes Used By Forging Factories
A forging factory is a manufacturing plant involved in producing high-strength and durable parts by pressing, pounding, and squeezing the metal through high pressure. Forging is the oldest form of metalwork and is the most efficient, as the forgings produced are more substantial than those manufactured by another metalwork.
Forging factories manufacture various parts of automobiles, guns, tools, agricultural equipment, and machinery, equipment. There are three main processes of forging: the hot forging process, the cold forging process, and the warm forging process.
Hot Forging Process
The hot forging process occurs at temperatures above the crystallization points of various metals. These high temperatures are ideal as they prevent the metal from strain and hardening. This leads the metal to be more malleable but still solid. Forging factories use the hot forging process to manufacture customized parts with intrinsic designs since the metal becomes more ductile and malleable after heating. An example is in the processing of wrought alloys for medical applications.
The main disadvantage of hot forging is that it is expensive as the forging factory incurs costs with fuel and electricity used in the heating.
Cold Forging Process
This forging process creates parts with enhanced surface finishing quality and high tolerance dimensions. It is different from the other forms of forging as it does not utilize heat but instead shapes the parts under very high pressure at or below room temperature. Forging factories use the cold forging process in the manufacturing parts used in heavy equipment and machinery as the parts produced are more durable and reliable. This forging process also ensures that the metals have increased tensile strength since it does not undergo heating.
The most significant disadvantage of the cold forging process is that it’s impossible to create intricate and custom-made shapes and designs due to a lack of ductility.
Warm Forging Process
This is the most current process, and it occurs when the metal is heated at temperatures above its hardening points but below its recrystallization point. Warm forging combines the characteristics f the cold and hot forging processes, making it ideal for manufacturing different parts. This process is advantageous as the metal’s increased ductility, hence easy deformation. This process is often used as an alternative to cold forging. Forging factories use the warm forging process mainly in the manufacturing of automobiles.
In conclusion, forging factories use different developing processes depending on the metal used and the parts and equipment manufactured.