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Botou Casting Machinery Factory, the proud predecessor of Cangzhou Metallic Crafts Co., Ltd, is strategically nestled in the heart of China's renowned casting & forging industrial hub, Botou, Hebei Province, just a convenient 200km journey from the vibrant capital, Beijing. With an illustrious legacy spanning over three decades in the custom forging industry, our factory stands as a beacon of traditional craftsmanship fused with innovative advancements. As a venerable forging manufacturer, we not only imbibe the wisdom from industry pioneers but also prioritize the integration of cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art machinery. We are committed to evolving and enhancing our capabilities to not just meet, but exceed, the dynamic demands of the ever-evolving market.
Forging, a time-honored metalworking technique, remains unparalleled in its effectiveness even in modern times. Fundamentally, forging is the art of sculpting raw metal without reaching its melting point, maintaining its solid state as skilled operators employ diverse techniques like hammering, rolling, or pressing. Each distinct variation of forging boasts its unique benefits, yet most share the principle of heating the metal to extremely high temperatures to adeptly shape it.
In comparison to casting and other metalworking methods, forging provides unmatched physical properties, notably a superior tensile strength at an appealing cost. These exceptional attributes are largely due to alterations in the metal's grain structure. Unlike in casting, where the material is melted, the compressive forces in forging align the grain flow with the shape of the finished piece, resulting in components that surpass their machined and cast counterparts in strength.
CMC Forge extends these remarkable advantages to a wide array of industries, delivering a comprehensive suite of expert forging services tailored to meet diverse application needs.
UNDERSTANDING THE FORGING PROCESS
The forging process encompasses various subtypes, meaning the steps for each product may differ slightly. Nonetheless, most procedures adhere to a general framework.
- The cornerstone of forging is the use of dies to compress and sculpt metal, making it crucial to select the most effective tools for the desired outcome. Often, custom die design is essential to ensure the finished product meets exact specifications. For extensive production runs, this stage may involve creating multiple dies for operations such as flattening, forming, or cutting.
- Following the planning and tool preparation phases, the metalworking process can commence. Initially, the billet or workpiece is cut to the appropriate size. Subsequently, it is heated to the requisite temperature, rendering it ready for the forming process.
- At this juncture, the various forging techniques begin to diverge. Depending on the chosen method, the billet may be heated and compressed between two dies or placed into a mold cavity for compression. Alternatively, an operator may employ cold forging, working the billet at ambient temperatures using manual hammers.
- In conclusion, certain finishing processes may be necessary. For example, some dies might produce excess material known as flashing, which will need to be meticulously trimmed.
Forging is a pivotal process in metalworking, with two predominant types - hot forging and cold forging. Both these methodologies shape metal to achieve remarkable, comparable outcomes, yet each follows a distinct path to do so.
Hot forging is characterized by heating metals beyond their recrystallization temperature, sometimes reaching a scorching 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit. This process is celebrated for its efficiency, as the intense heat significantly lowers the energy needed for metal formation. The resultant products boast enhanced ductility and minimized yield strength, alongside the crucial advantage of eliminating chemical inconsistencies for superior quality.
Cold forging, in contrast, is performed at room temperature or any point below the metal's recrystallization threshold. While some robust metals, like high-carbon steel, resist this method, cold forging excels in achieving superior dimensional accuracy, product consistency, smooth surface finishes, and reduced contamination. This method employs various techniques such as bending, extruding, cold drawing, and cold heading. However, the precision and versatility of cold forging demand advanced machinery and may necessitate intermediate annealing, thus increasing operational needs.
ADVANTAGES
- Preservation of the metal's integral grain flow for enhanced durability.
- Strength retention of the metal, ensuring durability and resilience.
- Defects, inclusions, and porosity are virtually eradicated, ensuring pristine quality.
- Cost-effectiveness relative to other metal forming processes.
- Exceptional production rates, meeting high demand efficiently.
Discover unparalleled excellence with our top-notch hot forging parts and components, meticulously crafted to serve a diverse range of industries. From the dynamic world of automotive and food dairy to the precision-driven fields of medical, plumbing, and aerospace, our products meet the rigorous demands of sectors such as mining, petrochemical, electrical, energy, submarine, and beyond.
Renowned for producing exceptionally strong manufactured parts, hot forging stands as the premier choice in metal manufacturing processes. Our expertise ranges from creating parts weighing mere grams to those exceeding several hundred kilograms. For specialized surface finishes, our extensive suite of secondary operations includes precision machining, surface finishing, and more, ensuring every requirement is flawlessly met.
What Is Hot Forging?
Hot forging is a transformative process where metals are heated beyond their recrystallization temperature. This pivotal heating step reduces the energy and stress needed for shaping, thereby enhancing production rates. The method not only simplifies the shaping of metals but also minimizes the risk of fractures, optimizing manufacturing efficiency and product integrity.
Metals like iron and its alloys predominantly undergo hot forging due to two primary benefits: firstly, to prevent hardening and maintain workable material properties, and secondly, for cost-efficiency. Hot forging followed by heat treatment significantly strengthens metals like steel, offering an economical alternative to cold working while achieving desired mechanical properties.
Typical hot forging temperatures are as follows: Aluminum (Al) Alloys typically range from 360° (680°F) to 520°C (968°F); Copper (Cu) Alloys span 700°C (1 292°F) to 800°C (1 472°F); Steel can be heated up to 1 150°C (2 102°F) to achieve optimal forging conditions.
How are Hot Forgings Made?
The hot forging process elevates metal temperatures beyond their recrystallization threshold, preventing strain hardening and facilitating plastic deformation. This involves heating the metal and, when necessary, the mold, allowing for seamless shaping of complex designs. The ease of deformation at high temperatures enables the creation of intricate shapes not possible with cold forging.
For superalloys with inherent low malleability, isothermal forging is employed to mitigate oxidation. Known also as hot forging, this advanced thermal process maintains the workpiece's maximum temperature throughout formation, ensuring precision and material integrity in a controlled environment.
Temperature maintenance is achieved by heating the mold to an elevated or slightly lower level than the workpiece. This ensures constant workpiece temperature during molding, preventing cooling and enhancing metal flow properties, thus improving the overall quality and consistency of the forged product.
Advantages of Hot Forging
- Increased ductility allows for greater flexibility and resilience in forged components, enhancing their performance across various applications.
- Complex shapes become achievable, expanding design possibilities and enabling intricate part geometries that meet specific industry needs.
- High precision is maintained, ensuring that each component adheres strictly to design specifications, thus guaranteeing superior quality.
- Cost benefit is realized through the efficiency of hot forging, reducing material waste and lowering production costs while enhancing durability.
- Enhanced stiffness provides robust structural strength, essential for components subjected to high stress and demanding conditions.
- Size: Our capabilities range from forging elements as compact as 1 inch to robust components measuring up to 30 inches.
- Weight: Our hot forging processes accommodate a spectrum of weights, from lightweight ounces to substantial parts exceeding 100 pounds.
| Material | Characteristics | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | Corrosion-resistant |
|
| Low Carbon and Low Alloy Steel | Easily processed Good mechanical properties Low material cost |
|
| HSLA/Microalloy Steel | Good mechanical properties Low material cost Simple thermomechanical treatment |
|
| Aluminum | Good strength-to-weight ratio Readily forged |
|
| Aluminum A356.0 | Good strength-to-weight ratio Readily forged |
|
| Nickel-Base Superalloy | Oxidation resistance Creep-rupture strength |
|
| Titanium | High strength Low density Excellent corrosion resistance |
|
Secondary Operations and Heat Treatment of Hot Forging We Offer
- High precision machining
- Punching, drilling, tapping, bending, milling
- Painting, anodizing, black oxide, powder coating
- Heat treatment
