Forging is the process of shaping a solid metal using compressive forces. It is usually done when the metal is hot (around 1000degC), as the forces required to shape the metal are much lower than when forging at intermediate 'warm' temperatures or at room temperature ('cold' forging).
Forge sizes
Forges vary considerably in size, from the very largest units capable of delivering a load equivalent to more than 50,000T, down to units for forging small, individual components in a single blow.
Forging tools
A forge is equipped with tools that transfer the load and help shape the metal:
- Hammer forge: uses a simply shaped tool to hit the metal, relying on the workpiece being manipulated to achieve the desired shape.
- Die forge: uses shaped tools to achieve a particular cross section, for instance square bars.
- Open die: allows the workpiece to move through it on consecutive blows to shape a relatively longer component.
- Closed die: a pair of dies which, when brought together, impart a more complex shape on the metal workpiece.