Manufacturing takes a lot of processes to get the final piece completed. If you are not keen, you might not even know how the product goes from metal to something that you consider useful. Companies that do cold forging china have perfected the art of molding metals into whatever the client wishes and can use. If you are in the manufacturing industry or need items in bulk, it helps to understand the cold forging process. It will go a long way to help you figure out whether the timelines you get are accurate and paying the right amount for the product. Here are the tops things you should know about cold forging.
What is cold forging?
Before we go any further into the process, we must define the process itself. Cold forging is a metal shaping process where a metal piece is put through a machine and inserted into a die that compresses it into the right shape. The process is called cold forging because it is carried out at either room temperature or a temperature below the metal’s crystallization point. Since no heat is used, there is little energy consumed, making it a cheaper form of metal forming.
The process of cold forging
One of the fascinating things about this process is the speed at which items get manufactured. Most cold forging industries can produce up to 1000 units in an hour, making it very efficient for large-scale manufacturing. The products made from the whole process are uniform and have the right dimensional stability that is needed. Here is the step-by-step process of creating an item through cold forging.
1. Designing the prototype
Whenever the company needs to work on a new item, they first start with a prototype. It is designed and processed to see if it fits what the client needs. Once that has been ascertained, then it can get produced in mass quantities.
2. Lubricating the machine
Before production starts, the machines are lubricated. This is because temperatures tend to rise during lubrication, and the aim is to keep it as low as possible. The lubricant will work to lower these temperatures.
3. Metal piece insertion
The metal piece that needs to be forged is inserted into the machine. The die in this place is shaped like the final product that is being forged. Many times the die comes with two pieces connected to the hammer.
4. The stroke
Once the metal is in place, the stroke happens. In this situation, the stroke is either done through hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical. The process drops the hammer on the metal to create the shape. Based on the density of the metal, this might be done a couple of times to ensure they get it right.
5. Flash
When the metal gets shaped, there will be excess metal seeping out of the die. These bits are cut off in a process called trimming. Flash ensures that the piece being formed is complete with no issues.
6. Removal and shaping
Once the process is completed, the finished product is removed and shaped, so any excesses are done away with. It ensures that the final product stays uniform.
Last words
The cold forging process has been around for a while. Over the years, its use has significantly increased. The main reason for this is its efficiency and low product cost.
