This Is The Hot Forging Process For Shafts
When it comes to shaft forging, such as turbine shafts, the process is a bit different. The lengths of shafts and probably large diameters makes them impossible to forging using molds. So, the most efficient hot forging process is the open die forging.
So, when talking about the hot forging process shaft, we are talking about the hot forging open die process. But there are factors unique to the shaft forming that makes the process a bit unique. Here is how the process of hot forging shafts look like:
Select the Material
The first thing in the hot forging process shaft is choosing the material. You need to know the kind of material you need to make the shaft. There are all kinds of material, including steel, iron, and their alloys, that are used for the construction of shafts. What determines the kind of raw material to use is what the shaft will be used for. These are details that are supplied by the customer.
Hydraulic Press Machine
The second thing you need to check is the type of hydraulic machine to use. There are all sizes of hydraulic machines depending on the compression force they produce. You need to check the kind of machine you need depending on the shaft to be forged. Remember that the larger the shaft, the larger the compression force you need. So get the right hydraulic machine and get ready.
Get The Right Dies
With the material and the press machine ready, the next thing missing are the dies. Depending on the shaft’s size and shape that you want to forge, you need to have the right die. The size of the dies is crucial. But you also need to check the material used for the making of the dies. The material should offer high tolerance to workpiece temperature and the compression force.
Heating Process
With raw material and the heating process ready, the next thing starting the forging process. The first step in the hot forging process shaft is the heating of the blank metal. You need to heat the workpiece into the recommended forging temperature. This is very important to make the forging process easy. The forging temperature will be determined by the type of metal you are forging.
Start Forging
The forging process is not difficult. With the dies in place and the compression force already start, start the hammering of the workpiece to form the required shape. The open die hot forging process takes some time. You might need to reheat the workpiece several times before the final product is produced.
Heat Treatment
The last step is heat treatment. After hot forging, you need to treat the forged shaft to get fine grains. The heat treatment takes a lot of forms, including cooling and soaking. Heating again is also another way of heat treating.