Free Forging

Free Forging

Free forging, also known as free hammer forging or free forging process, is a metal forging method that does not use a die. In the free forging process, the forging blank (usually a metal block or bar) is heated to a temperature with sufficient plasticity, and then it is shaped into the desired shape using equipment such as a forging hammer or a forging press. This process relies on the skills of the operator, who needs to control the shape and size by observing and mastering the forging process. Free forging mainly produces small batches of forgings. The blank is shaped using forging equipment such as forging hammers and hydraulic presses to obtain qualified forgings. The basic processes of free forging are upsetting, drawing, punching, cutting, bending, twisting, shifting and forging. Free forging uses hot forging methods.

Advantages of Free Forging

1. Free forging can improve the organization and performance of metal. The quality and mechanical properties of metal free forgings are higher than those of castings, and the strength is 50%-70% higher than that of castings, so it can withstand greater impact loads. Forgings can be used. Reducing the weight of the parts themselves while ensuring the design strength of the parts is of great significance to aerospace and transportation.

2. Free forging can save raw materials. The free forging method can be used to produce parts with shapes closer to the parts.

3. Free forging is suitable for single-piece and small-batch production, and the flexibility of variety changes is relatively large.

4. Since there is no lateral flow of straight and curved shaft parts and ring parts, their streamline distribution is generally more reasonable than that of die forgings. It is especially suitable for shaft, disc or ring parts with simple shapes, small cross-sectional changes, and relatively gentle straight or curved main axes.

5. Some special quality torsion requirements can be met by free forging processes, such as reverse upsetting, to improve the quality of raw materials.

Free Forging Process

The free forging process includes basic process, auxiliary process and finishing process.

*Basic process of free forging: upsetting, drawing, punching, bending, cutting, twisting, shifting and forging. The most commonly used processes in actual production are upsetting, drawing and punching.

*Auxiliary process: pre-deformation process, such as pressing jaws, pressing ingot edges, shoulder cutting, etc.

*Finishing process: process to reduce surface defects of forgings, such as removing uneven parts of the forging surface, shaping, etc.