The principal foundation for forging equipment selection is the technical requirements of the forgings (e.g., projected area, thickness/height, shape, complexity, and accuracy), material properties, and enterprise equipment conditions.

 

1. Selection According to Material Properties

Most universal forging machines can meet the requirements of common structural steel forgings, and the equipment can be selected based on the enterprise's equipment available and amount of production in order to economize. In special alloy forgings, material plasticity and microstructure and performance requirements play a dominant role in equipment selection.

 

Aluminum, Magnesium, and Copper Alloy Forgings:

• The selected equipment is hydraulic presses, especially for large die forgings.
• For small and medium-sized aluminum alloy die forgings, mechanical or screw presses can be utilized too.
• When the aforementioned machines are unavailable, forging hammers may be used, but process specifications must be adhered to with extreme caution to avert cracking and irregular microstructure.

 

Titanium Alloy Forgings:

• Hydraulic presses are most suitable for big titanium alloy die forgings.
• For small and medium-sized titanium alloy forgings, mechanical or screw presses may be utilized.
• Forging hammers can be used if necessary, but strict process control should be maintained to avoid poor microstructure and performance.

 

Stainless Steel Forgings:

Stainless steel forgings are not generally restricted by the type of forging equipment.

 

High-Temperature Alloy Forgings:

• Large high-temperature alloy die forgings, such as turbine disks, are preferably forged using hydraulic presses.
• Mechanical or screw presses are best suited for small to medium-sized high-temperature alloy forgings.
• Forging hammers are not generally recommended for high-temperature alloy forgings.

 

2.Based on Projected Area Selection

 

Large Die Forgings:

• Hydraulic presses are recommended for large high-temperature alloy, titanium alloy, and aluminum alloy die forgings.
• Counterblow hammers or forging hammers are generally chosen for economic reasons for structural steel and stainless steel large die forgings.
• Hydraulic presses are recommended for large structural steel and stainless steel forgings.

 

Small to Medium-Sized Die Forgings:

• Forging hammers are used for small to medium-sized forgings of high-temperature alloy, titanium alloy, and aluminum alloy.
• Mechanical or screw presses can also be employed for titanium alloy forgings.
• Structural steel and stainless steel small to medium-sized forgings are typically forged with forging hammers, but mechanical or screw presses may be used depending on production volume and equipment capability.

 

3. Depending on Thickness (or Blank Height) Selection

Thick Forgings or High-Height Blanks:

Hydraulic presses are best suited for long-stroke forging operations, such as upsetting and die forging with large reductions, and extrusion or impact extrusion operations involving uniform load over long strokes.

Thin Forgings:

Forging hammers and screw presses are best suited for thin forgings, although hammers are limited to stainless steel and titanium alloy forgings.

Mechanical and screw presses are suitable for high-temperature alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, and copper alloy forgings.

 

4. By Precision Requirements Selection

High-Precision Forgings:

Mechanical and screw presses are suitable for precision die forging of titanium alloy and stainless steel blades, and small and medium-sized aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloy forgings.

 

General-Precision Forgings:

Hydraulic presses and forging hammers are suitable for general-precision die forgings.

 

5. Choice Based on Volume of Production and Economy of Cost

Large-Volume Forgings:

Mechanical presses are most suitable for high-volume production of automobile, farm machinery, medical equipment, hardware tools, and aero-engine blade forgings.

 

Medium-Volume Forgings:

Medium-volume forgings are most suited for forging hammers and screw presses.

 

Low-Volume Forgings:

Low-volume production of large die forgings is possible in hydraulic presses.