The Different Uses Of Forgings In Various Industries

Author: Sophia Will

Forging is a metal forming process where compressive forces are applied to a given metal workpiece during the manufacturing. Forging can be termed as hot, warm, or cold forging in accordance to the temperatures that are applied during the forging process. In most cases, the hammers and presses are used for forging. In the industrial settings, these equipment and machines are mostly powered by steam, hydraulics, electricity, or air. Forging is the only method through which the important and desired mechanical properties can be included within the metal’s microstructure. Because the changes come to the metal at the granular level, the metal possesses much more durability and is more strong once it is forged.

Uses of Forging

As we can see, there are both cold and hot processes available for forging. Cold forging does not require the application of heat and can be used for manufacturing simple forgings in higher and large amounts. But for the customised forgings, as made by a leading forging manufacturer company, the hot forging process can only be used. Hot forging also improves the ductility of metals and therefore the process and these metals can be used for many different configurations as well. Hot forging also provides for better surface quality so that the metals can be painted, coated, polished and customised to the requirements of the customer better.

There are also different forging processes available and the choice is made depending on the forged parts requirements. While upset forging can increase the cross-sectional area of the part while decreasing its length, drop-out forging can increase its length. Forging may also use the cross-sectional squeeze in dies, which produce a multi-directional flow. Some of the uses and common applications of the forgings are given below.

Automotive- Forgings are used in the automobile industry and in the manufacturing of truck parts as well because of the better reliability and strength of the forged parts. Forgings can be commonly found in the automotive train (in the differential and transmission gears, transmission shafts, connecting rods, and clutch hubs among other parts). They are also used at the points of stress and jolts (as in the torsion bar, axle shafts and beams and in the wheel spindles, among other areas).

Aerospace- Structural reliability and better weight and strength configuration and ratio make the forgings well suited to be used in the aerospace industry. Apart from the military aircraft and commercial planes, the forgings are also used in spacecraft. They find their use an application in engine mounts, shafts, beings, bracket, iron ring, engine components coupling, and in many other areas.

Ordnance- From the rifles to the large nuclear submarines, forgings are used in ordinance and defence, in innumerable ways. They are also used in missiles, heavy tanks, heavy artillery, and in the personal armoured careers, among other areas. Ring rolling forging are widely manufactured because of its immense usage.

Industrial Equipment- Forgings are used in the form of sprockets, gear, yokes, rollers, ball joints, spindles and in the form of many other parts in the textile, construction, mining, and material handling industries, among others.

Apart from these areas forgings are also used in oil fields, in hand tools, and in many kinds of hardware as well.