The Design And Forming Of Hot Forging Die
Hot forging use dies to form the shape and the size of the required product. In most cases, these dies are always available for forging work. But forming these dies is another process that also includes forging. The hot forging die design is a delicate process that is supposed to provide very accurate products.
This guide will focus at some of the key elements that are looked at when designing and forming hot forging dies. Here are key factors that you need to check out:
Material To be Used
One of the first and more important things to do is to select the material to be used. There are several things that you need to consider when selecting the material. First, it should be a very hard material for the metals that it will be forming. If the dies for forming shafts, the material to be used must withstand the temperature and compression force that comes with the making of the shaft. In short, you need to use the hardest metals such as steel, iron, and their alloys.
Hot Forging
The next step is the fording of the material. Form the blanks for the process of the hot forging to start. The metal blank should be heated to its crystallization point or to 75% of the melting points. This temperature will be enough to produce plasticity of the material, making it easy to deform to the required die size and shape. The forging process requires the consideration of factors, including the compression force needed.
Heat Treatment
The forged die is then heat-treated to ensure that its mechanical properties are improved. It is during heat treatment that fine grains are developed. The die material will be hardened and strengthened. This enables the dies to withstand even the hardest condition, such as high temperatures and compression forces. So, it one of the most important steps in the hot forging die design and manufacturing. Heat treatments vary depending on the material and the expected properties. Heating, cooling, and soaking are some of the best examples of heat treatment.
Machining Process
The last step is the machining process. The making of dies cannot be complete with the use molds only. For the intricate hot forging die designs, machining equipment are being used. This is where the workpiece is cut into the required shapes by a special machine such as CNC machining.