Metal forging is the process in which metals are formed and shaped using compressive forces. The forces are delivered using hammering, pressing, or rolling.

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There are a number of forging processes &#; cold forging, warm forging, and hot forging &#; which are classified by the temperature of the metal being worked with.

Forging is one of the more pivotal metalworking processes in the metal manufacturing industry. It&#;s especially vital in the iron and steel industries and is viewed as a tremendous source of productivity.

The Origins of Metal Forging

Metal forging has deep roots in human history, dating back thousands of years. The process was initially simple, involving heating metal and beating it into shape using basic tools. Early humans discovered the transformative potential of heating metals in fires and then hammering them into desired forms. Over time, these rudimentary techniques evolved, giving birth to more advanced methods and tools.

The earliest known metal to be forged by humans was gold, a metal that was relatively easy to shape due to its low melting point. As humans advanced technologically, they began to work with other metals like copper, bronze, iron, and steel. The discovery and mastery of iron forging marked a significant milestone in human civilization, leading to the Iron Age.

What is The Metal Forging Process?

When choosing a type of forging, buyers have a long list of options for producing a critical metal component. It can be challenging to make the right choice, because each technique comes with varying pros and cons, revolving around costs and logistics.

However, choosing the forging method brings a plethora of unique benefits unavailable with any other choice.

With regards to price and overall quality, metal forging brings the most value. This notion rings doubly when maximum part strength, custom sizes, and critical performance specifications are needed for the application.

Here are some of the more common methods used:

• Closed die forging
• Open die forging
• Cold forging
• Roll forging

Open Die Forging, Closed Die Forging, and Roll Forging

The most common metal forging processes are open die forging, closed die forging, and roll forging.

What is Open Die Forging?

In open die forging, heated metal parts are shaped between a top die attached to a ram and a bottom die attached to a bolster, anvil, or hammer. With open die forging the metal is never completely confined or restrained in the dies.

Typically, temperatures range from anywhere between 500°F and °F, the appropriate temperatures are applied when working the metal parts.  Once the metal has been appropriately heated, the intricate hammering &#; or pressing of the workpiece &#; is performed to gradually shape the metal to its desired form.

Typically, the open die forging process is used to produce larger, simpler-shaped parts such as bars, rings, and hollows.

What is Closed Die Forging?

Closed die forging moves the die towards each other, covering the workpiece entirely or partially. There is heated raw material that&#;s nearing the shape/size of the final forged part and is placed in the bottom die.

This process works by incorporating the shape of the forging into the top or bottom die as a negative image. Once the process starts, the impact of the top die on the metal material forms it into the required forged form.

This process can be used to manufacture parts that range in size from a few ounces to 60,000 lbs.

What is Roll Forging?

Roll forging, also known as roll forming, is a forging method that uses opposing rolls to form a metal part. Even though roll forging uses rolls to produce parts and components, it is still considered a metal forging process and not a rolling process.

The process involves two cylindrical or semi-cylindrical horizontal rolls that are used to deform a round or flat bar stock. Through this action, the thickness is reduced, and the length is increased. Parts produced through roll forging have superior mechanical properties than those produced from many other processes.

After being inserted, a heated bar is passed between the two rolls. It&#;s progressively shaped while rolling through the machine&#;s shaped grooves. The precisely shaped geometry of these grooves are what forge the part to the specified dimensions.

Roll forging is often used to produce parts for the automotive industry. It is also used to produce things like knives and hand tools.

Standard Forging Equipment

There are several primary tools that are used in the metal forging process depending on the exact method being used.

Forge

The forge is the primary heating apparatus used to reach the required temperature for forging. Modern forges utilize gas or electric heat sources.

Hammers

The hammer, or power hammer, is a tool most commonly associated with forging. Whether a hand-held hammer or a massive power hammer, the tool is used to repeatedly hit the metal in order to deform it. As long as it possesses a 50,000 lbs driving force to deliver high-pressure impact blows, a hammer can pound metal into shape.

Presses

Presses use either mechanical or hydraulic pressure to apply continuous pressure on forging dies. This kind of equipment requires a 50,000 ton driving force to vertically squeeze metal into die cavities with controlled high pressure. Instead of hitting the metal repeatedly to deform it, the metal is slowly pressed into the dies.

Upsetters

Upsetter forging is similar to press forging, however, the main difference is that an upsetter is a forging press that is used horizontally. Instead of forcing the metal downward into a die, the metal is moved into the die impression in a horizontal direction.

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Ring Rollers

Ring rollers are used to produce rings with diameters from just a few inches to over 300 inches. Ring rollers squeeze out a one-piece ring, which removes the need for welding. It turns a hollow round piece of metal under extreme pressure against a rotating roll.

How Does Forging Strengthen Metal?

Compared to other manufacturing methods, metal forging is known to produce some of the strongest manufactured parts available.  As the metal is heated and pressed, minor cracks are sealed and empty spaces found in the metal are closed up.

In addition, the hot forging process breaks up any impurities in the metal and redistributes such material across the metalwork. This results in vastly reduced inclusions in the forged part. Inclusions are compound materials embedded inside steel throughout manufacturing, causing stress points in the product.

Even though impurities should be managed during the initial casting process, this process will further refine the metal.

Another way that forging strengthens metal is through the altering of its grain structure. This has to do with the material&#;s grain flow as it deforms. Like other forming processes, a favorable grain structure can be created, making the forged metal sturdier.

What Products Require Forged Metal?

Image above: Alignment pins manufactured via forging by TFG USA.

The forging process is incredibly versatile and can be applied to anything from small parts measured in inches to components that weigh up to 700,000 lbs.

Forged products can be structural components in the following:

Agricultural Equipment

Agricultural equipment often relies on metal forged parts to endure the demanding conditions of the farming landscape. Tractors, plows, harrows, and combine harvesters, essential for modern agriculture, incorporate metal forged components like gears, axles, and blades.

The superior strength and resilience of these forged parts ensure the machines can handle the rigors of tilling, planting, harvesting, and more. Farmers benefit from increased efficiency, durability, and reduced maintenance costs, ultimately contributing to higher agricultural productivity and sustainable farming practices.

Construction Equipment

Construction equipment, built to withstand rigorous demands, extensively utilizes parts created by metal forging. Heavy machinery such as excavators, bulldozers, cranes, and pile drivers integrate critical forged components like pins, gears, cylinders, and structural parts.

The resilience and robustness of forged metal ensure these machines can endure the tough conditions of construction sites, lifting heavy loads, excavating, and shaping the landscape. By utilizing metal forging, construction equipment achieves longevity, safety, and efficiency, essential for completing diverse projects ranging from buildings and bridges to roads and dams.

Oil Mining Equipment

Metal forging plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of durable and robust components for oil mining equipment. Drill bits, couplings, valves, and pump components are commonly forged to withstand the demanding conditions of oil extraction.

The extreme pressures and abrasive environments of oil drilling necessitate the strength and durability that forged parts offer. By using forged components, the oil industry achieves heightened operational efficiency, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. These specially crafted forged parts endure the relentless rigors of oil mining, ensuring a reliable and efficient extraction process vital to meeting global energy demands.

Railroad Equipment

The railway industry relies on metal forging for the reliable and safe operation of trains and rail systems. Vital components like axles, wheelsets, couplers, and connecting rods are forged to endure the immense stresses encountered during rail operations.

The durability and high strength of these forged parts ensure the safety of passengers, cargo, and railway infrastructure. By incorporating forged components, the railway sector achieves enhanced performance, longevity, and the ability to efficiently transport people and goods across vast distances, contributing to the backbone of modern transportation and trade.

Also, forging is used to fortify hand tools (e.g., chisels, rivets, screws, and bolts).

What is the Best metal for Forging?

It&#;s possible to forge any kind of metal, but there are certain metals and alloys that are better suited for different applications.

Most commonly, these are the kinds of metals that get forged:

• Carbon, alloy, and stainless steel
• Exceptionally hard tool steels
• Aluminum
• Titanium
• Brass and copper
• High-temperature alloys containing cobalt, nickel, or molybdenum

Out of these choices, it&#;s almost impossible to choose which is the &#;best,&#; as it really depends on the needs of a customer.

Economics 101 for Metal Forging

In smaller quantities, forged parts can be very expensive on a price per unit basis. This is primarily due to manufacturing forging die coming at a high upfront cost &#; a trait shared by other expenses associated with setting up shop.

Once everything has been set up and you&#;ve purchased the dies, the actual costs for operating are reasonably affordable, especially with automation playing a massive role. Taking this into consideration, this metal fabrication method is typically best for products that are being produced in more substantial quantities.

As the world continues to modernize, high-quality manufactured parts will only grow in demand. Since forging produces some of the strongest metals imaginable, it should be no surprise that the market is projected to be worth $131.32 billion by .

Starting A Metal Forging Project

If you&#;re interested in producing custom metal parts or components and think that metal forging may be the best option for you, don&#;t hesitate to give The Federal Group USA a call.  Our experienced support team members will go through your project requirements with you, help you determine the best course of action, and provide you with a free quote for your project. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Advantages of Forging

Below are the detailed description of forging advantages:

1)

Grain Flow ComparisonGrain Flow ComparisonGrain Flow ComparisonGrain Flow Comparison

Grain Flow Comparision

Forging 
Casting Machining


Grain flow is oriented to improve ductility, toughness, and increase fatigue resistance
Typically do not have a desired grain structure
Uni-directional grain flow has been cut when changing contour, exposing grain ends. This renders the material more liable to fatigue and more sensitive to stress corrosion cracking

2) Forging process can create parts that are stronger than those manufactured by any other metalworking process. This is why forgings are almost always used when reliability and human safety are critical.

3) Forgings can be nearly any shape, which reduces the need for joining multiple pieces. Reducing the joint can improve the overall strength of the unit as the forging does not need to be welded or otherwise fastened together.

4) Forging can be used to make parts for all industries. Products manufactured by forging in modern industry include critical aircraft parts such as landing gear, shafts for jet engines and turbines, structural components for transportation equipment such as automobiles and railroads, crankshafts, levers, gears, connecting rods, hand tools such as chisels, rivets, screws, and bolts to name a few. 

5) The manufacture of forging die and the other high costs of setting up an operation make the production of small quantities of forged parts expensive on a price per unit basis. Once set up, however, operation costs for forging manufacture can be relatively low, and many parts of the process may be automated. These factors make manufacturing large quantities of metal forgings economically beneficial.

What Does CFS Forge Offer?

CFS Forge is the premier

1) We have our own tool & die shop, forging shop, and machining shop. So we can supply products in different status. No matter whatever products you need, we have the ability to make forging dies, forging blanks, and machined forgings. Compared to other forging compaines, we also have experience of delivering forging dies only according to the prints or samples.

2) Redesign service--Once you feel that your current design is too costly, or the working performance is not very good. Come to our company, our engineer can help you to redesign the part combing our forging experience and your application. To improvide our customer service, our redesign service is free of cost.

3)

4) We offer not only forging parts--We have our own casting foundry. Of course, we can also help to source other products, such as stampings, metal fabrications, etc. This enables us to become a comprehensive service company.

Forging is a manufacturing process by which metal is pressed under great pressure into high strength desired parts. The process is normally (but not always) performed hot by preheating the metal to a desired temperature before it is worked. It&#;s important to note that the forging process is entirely different from the casting process ( forging vs casting ), as metal used to make forged parts is never melted and poured as operated in the casting process. Forging refines the grain structure and improves the physical properties of the metal, so that the grain flow can be oriented in the direction of principal stresses encountered in actual use. Physical properties such as strength, ductility, and toughness are much better in a forging than in the base metal.1) Forging can refine the grain structure of products. Forging is superior to casting or machining bar stock because the metal&#;s natural grain flow is made to conform to the shape of the product. Castings have an isotropic grain structure and, for a given part, may be as strong in compression loads, but standard and custom forgings are superior in tensile and shear loads due to the utilization of the grain flow. The structural reliability of forgings allows designers to trust the material to adhere to the safety factors of the design. It also can provide more uniform response to heat treatment and machining operations.2) Forging process can create parts that are stronger than those manufactured by any other metalworking process. This is why forgings are almost always used when reliability and human safety are critical.3) Forgings can be nearly any shape, which reduces the need for joining multiple pieces. Reducing the joint can improve the overall strength of the unit as the forging does not need to be welded or otherwise fastened together.4) Forging can be used to make parts for all industries. Products manufactured by forging in modern industry include critical aircraft parts such as landing gear, shafts for jet engines and turbines, structural components for transportation equipment such as automobiles and railroads, crankshafts, levers, gears, connecting rods, hand tools such as chisels, rivets, screws, and bolts to name a few.5) The manufacture of forging die and the other high costs of setting up an operation make the production of small quantities of forged parts expensive on a price per unit basis. Once set up, however, operation costs for forging manufacture can be relatively low, and many parts of the process may be automated. These factors make manufacturing large quantities of metal forgings economically beneficial.CFS Forge is the premier closed die forging provider. With annual output 10,000t, we have totally six production lines to ensure timely delivery. In our forging factory, we have forging equipments from 300t to 2,500t, so that we can supply both small and medium components at your service. Besides, we can also offer below services:1) We have our own tool & die shop, forging shop, and machining shop. So we can supply products in different status. No matter whatever products you need, we have the ability to make forging dies, forging blanks, and machined forgings. Compared to other forging compaines, we also have experience of delivering forging dies only according to the prints or samples.2) Redesign service--Once you feel that your current design is too costly, or the working performance is not very good. Come to our company, our engineer can help you to redesign the part combing our forging experience and your application. To improvide our customer service, our redesign service is free of cost.3) Convert casting into forging - It is common that defects are always produced in casting. So when you would like to change the metal casting way of your products into forging, Fly Forge will be your wise choice for this job. We will revaluate your current design and give you a new forging solution for reference.4) We offer not only forging parts--We have our own casting foundry. Of course, we can also help to source other products, such as stampings, metal fabrications, etc. This enables us to become a comprehensive service company.

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