Forging and its types

Forging is the operation where the metal is heated and then a force is applied to manipulates the metals in such a way that the required final shape is obtained. Forging is generally a hot working process through cold forging is used sometimes.

Type of forging

1. smith forging

2. drop forging

3. press forging

4. machine forging

1: Smith forging

This is the traditional forging operation done openly or in-openly dies by the village black smith or modern shop floor by manual hammering or by the power hammer. The process involves heating the stock in the black smith hearth and then beating it over the anvil. To get the desire shape the operator has to manipulate the component in between the blows.

The types of operation available are fullering, flattering, bending , upsetting and swaging.

2: Drop forging

Basic definition:

This is the operation done in closed impression dies by means drop hammer here the force for shaping the component is applied in a series of blows.

 

Drop forging utilizes a closed impression die to obtain the desire shape of the component , the shaping is done by the repeated hammering given to the material in the die cavity. The equipment use for delivering for blows are called drop hammers. The drop forging die consists of two halves. The lower halve of the die is fixed to the anvil of the machine , while the upper halve is fixed to ram. The heated stock is kept in the lower die, while the ram delivers 4-5 blows on the metal spreads and completely fills in the die cavity. When the two die of halves closed the complete is formed. The typical products obtained in drop forging are cranks, crank shaft, connecting rods, wrench, crane hooks etc. The types of operations are fullering, edging, bending, blocking , finishing and trimming etc.

3: Press forging

Similar to the drop forging , the press forging is also done in closed impression dies with the expectation that the force is continuous squeezing type applied by the hydraulic press. Press forging dies are similar to drop forging dies as also the process in press forging, the metal is shaped not by means of a series of blows as in drop forging , but by means of a single continuous squeezing action. This squeezing is obtained by means of hydraulic presses. Because of the continuous action of by hydraulic presses, the material gets uniformly deform through out its entire depth ,the press forging dies with the various impression , such as fuller, bender and finisher impression properly arranged .

4: Machine forging:

Unlike the press or drop forging where the material is drawn out , in machine forging the material is only upset to get the desire shape. As it involves the upsetting operation some time it is simply called as upset forging. Originally this was develop for making bolts head in a continuous fashion, but now there are fairly large number of diverse.

Uses of this process:

Because of the beneficial grain flow obtain from upsetting. It is used for making gears, blanks, shafts, excels, and similar parts. Upsetting machine called up setter are generally horizontal acting. The die set consists of die and corresponding punch or a heading tool. The die consists of two parts, one called the stationary gripper die which is fixed to the machine frame and the other movable gripper die which moves along with the die slide of the up setter. The stock is held then between these two gripper dies.

The upset forging cycle start with the, movable die sliding against the stationary die to grip the stock. The two dies when in closed position from the necessary die cavity then the heading tool advance against the stock and upset it to completely filled to the die cavity.

Having completed the upsetting the heading tool moves back to its back position. Then the movable gripper die releases the stock by sliding backward. Similar to drop forging it is not possible to get the final shape in a single pass in machine forging also. Therefore the operation is carried out in number of stages. The die cavities is required for the various operations are all arrange vertically on the gripper dies. The stock is the move from stage one to another in proper sequence till the final forging is ready. A heading tool each for every upsetting stage is arranged on the heading slide of the upsetting machine. A typical upsetting die and heading tool is shown:
 

Forging defects:

Though forging process give generally prior quality product compared other manufacturing processes. There are some defects that are lightly to come a proper care is not taken in forging process design.

A brief description of such defects and their remedial method is given below.

(A): Unfilled Section:

In this some section of the die cavity are not completely filled by the flowing metal. The causes of this defects are improper design of the forging die or using forging techniques.

(B): Cold Shut:

This appears as a small cracks at the corners of the forging. This is caused manely by the improper design of die. Where in the corner and the fillet radie are small as a result of which metal does not flow properly into the corner and the ends up as a cold shut.

(C): Scale Pits:

This is seen as irregular depurations on the surface of the forging. This is primarily caused because of improper cleaning of the stock used for forging. The oxide and scale gets embedded into the finish forging surface. When the forging is cleaned by pickling, these are seen as depurations on the forging surface.

(D): Die Shift:

This is caused by the miss alignment of the die halve, making the two halve of the forging to be improper shape.

(E): Flakes:

These are basically internal ruptures caused by the improper cooling of the large forging. Rapid cooling causes the exterior to cool quickly causing internal fractures. This can be remedied by following proper cooling practices.

(F): Improper Grain Flow:

This is caused by the improper design of the die, which makes the flow of the metal not flowing the final interred direction.

Forging operations:

1: Drawing:

This is the operation in which metal gets elongated with a reduction in the cross sedation area. For this, a force is to be applied in a direction perpendiaulant to the length axis.
 

 

2:Up setting:

3:Fullering:

It a similar to material cross-section is decreased and length increased. To do this; the bottom fuller is kept in angle hole with the heated stock over the fuller .the top fuller is then kept above the stock and then with the sledge hammer, and the force is applied on the top fuller.
 

4:Edging:

It is a process in which the metal piece is displaced to the desired shape by striking between two dies edging is frequently as primary drop forging operation.
 

 

5:Bending:

Bending is very common forging operation. It is an operation to give a turn to metal rod or plate. This is required for those which have bends shapes.
 

 

6:Punching:

It is a process of producing holes in motel plate is placed over the hollow cylindrical die. By pressing the punch over the plate the hole is made.
 

 

7:Forged welding: It is a process of joining two metal pieces to increase the length. By the pressing or hammering then when they are at for ging temperature.Itis performed in forging shop and hence is called forged welding.

8:Cutting:

It is a process in which a metal rod or plate cut out into two pieces, with the help of chisel and hammer, when the metal is in red hot condition.

9:Flating and setting down:

Fullering leaves a corrugated surface on the job. Even after a job is forged into shape with a hammer, the marks of the hammer remains on the upper surface of the job. To remove hammer marks and corrugation and in order to obtain a smooth surface on the job, a flatter or set hammer is used.