| Closed die forgings by far are the largest type of | | | | insignificant as it is amortized over all the parts |
| forging produced. They accounted for over $5.8 | | | | produced. |
| billion of the $8 billion in revenue generated from | | | | 4. The ability to make complex shapes with closer |
| custom forgings. | | | | tolerances (as detailed above) |
| The production of a closed die part requires the | | | | You may find that the initial deliveries of the |
| use of two or more dies, referred to as tooling. | | | | closed die parts are a little longer than in the open |
| These dies first must be manufactured with the | | | | die process. Typically though, a blanket release |
| predetermined profile of the part being produced. | | | | schedule accompanies this process and delivery |
| The material is heated up to its deformation | | | | dates are set up well in advance giving peace of |
| temperature and is then pressed or hammered | | | | mind about delivery schedules. |
| between these dies. | | | | The closed die forging process offers the same |
| The restriction of the metal flow inside the dies | | | | general advantage of all forging processes. |
| allows the production of parts that are more | | | | Products will have mechanical properties which |
| complex in shape than a part being produced by | | | | exhibit higher strength over other metalworking |
| the open die process. Additionally, this process | | | | processes. As a result, when safety and reliability |
| allows for closer tolerances than those produced | | | | are issues for your parts or processes, closed die |
| in open die. Relatively simple shapes can also be | | | | forged products should be considered. |
| processed this way, but the decision is usually | | | | Industries that rely on closed die forged products |
| driven by economics and meeting some of the | | | | include, but are not limited to Aerospace (including |
| conditions listed below. | | | | space exploration, commercial, industrial and |
| Also, even though there are tooling charges | | | | private aircraft), Electronics including |
| associated to this process, these cost can be | | | | Semiconductor Process Equipment and OEM's and |
| recovered quickly when certain conditions exist. | | | | Machine shops who process parts for them. |
| Advantages of Open Die Forging | | | | Most engineered metals and alloys can be forged |
| 1. The production of parts that are "near net | | | | through the conventional closed die process, |
| shape" reduces the amount of input material that | | | | including ferrous materials, like carbon and alloy |
| goes into the product and offers cost savings on | | | | steels, tool steels and stainless steel. Also |
| raw material. | | | | nonferrous materials of aluminum and copper |
| 2. In addition, by producing the "near net shape", | | | | alloys and certain titanium alloys can be forged in |
| the amount of machining required is greatly | | | | an impression die. Nonferrous alloys that are |
| reduced over that of the open die process | | | | typically forged include, C10100 (OFE or Oxygen |
| offering further savings per part | | | | Free Electronic), C46400 (Naval Brass), C18200 |
| 3. Here is the key; when you are in production | | | | (Chromium Copper), C70600 (Copper Nickel) and |
| and manufacture of "high volumes" of product, | | | | C18150 (Chromium Zirconium Copper). |
| the cost of the tooling becomes relatively | | | | |