Different Types of Forging Processes

21 Jul.,2025

 

Different Types of Forging Processes

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What are the Different Types of Forging Processes?

Four types of forging manufacturing processes are commonly used to shape metal parts. These metal forging processes include impression die forging (closed die), open die forging, cold forging, and seamless rolled ring forging. Using localized compressive forces, metal forgings provide a highly effective way to create various parts for all applications.

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Great Lakes Forge is a proud provider of open die forging services and other types of forging operations. Contact us today for more information about open die forging and learn what we can do for you.

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Impression Die Forging

Often referred to as closed die forging, the impression die forging process utilizes dies that completely enclose the base material, making it easier to shape the material into its desired shape. Compared to other types of forging operations, impression die forging requires greater compressive forces to ensure the die cavities are filled and form the complete part.

Impression Die Forging Advantages

  • Generate less metal waste
  • Higher production rates
  • Provides enhanced fatigue and impact resistance
  • Produces parts with higher strength-to-weight ratios

Cold Forging

The cold forging process is designed to create parts and components that display enhanced surface finish quality and tight tolerance dimensions. Unlike most other types of forging, cold forging does not utilize heat for part structure shaping but rather colder temperatures to produce various components.

Cold forging is used to create various parts and components, including shafts, hollow parts with shafts and stems, odd configurations, and cup-shaped geometries.

Cold Forging Advantages

  • Creates tight tolerances
  • Produces good surface finish quality
  • Economical
  • Little to no material waste
  • Dies last longer than those used for heat forging
  • Increased yield and tensile strength
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Brass

Cold Forging Material Options

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Brass

Custom Forged Parts

Open Die Forging

Also referred to as hammersmith forging, open die manufactured parts are shaped through direct force. A hammer strikes and deforms the workpiece, held in place by two flat dies. This process is called open die forging because the dies do not enclose the workpiece. Within this metal forging process, the dies act more like tools rather than enclosed molds.

Open die forging can produce forgings from a few pounds up to more than 150 tons and is ideal for parts weighing over 200,000 lbs. and 80 feet long.

Open Die Forging Advantages

  • Improved fatigue resistance
  • Continuous grain flow
  • Longer part life
  • Increased strength
  • Less chance of voids
  • Finer grain size

Open Die Forging

Seamless Rolled Ring Forging

Typically performed by punching a hole in a thick, round piece of metal and then rolling and squeezing the donut into a thin ring, seamless rolled ring forging processes are ideal for producing ring diameters ranging from a few inches to 30 feet. Compared to other types of forging, rolled ring forging utilizes curved dies instead of flat dies to form ring-shaped components.

Seamless Rolled Ring Forging Advantages

  • Superior structural integrity
  • Increased strength
  • Controlled directional flow
  • Eliminates welding, inclusions, and porosity

Get the Open-Die Forgings You Need With GL Forge

At Great Lakes Forge, we specialize in forging custom metal components and parts. Our open-die forging process produces high-strength forgings for industries that demand maximum reliability. We work closely with our customers to make sure we forge parts that meet each application’s exact requirements. With secondary services like CNC machining and heat treatment, we can produce blocks, spindles, crankshafts, and other custom-forged components that meet your specifications. From material selection to the final product, you can count on GL Forge for superior quality every step of the way.

Contact Great Lakes Forge for Expert Open Die Forging Services

Great Lakes Forge is your trusted provider of open die forging services for metal part manufacturing. Contact us for more information on our custom forging service options, or call us at 800-748-, and we’ll help you find the best custom forging solutions for your project.

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Basics of Forgings and Castings - The H-J Family of Companies

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Basics of Forgings and Castings

The H-J Family of Companies has extensive experience with forgings and castings in many ferrous and non-ferrous alloys such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. This presentation is intended to help educate customers about some of the basics types of forging and casting processes, as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

This resource is intended to help educate customers about some of the basics types of forging and casting processes, as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages of each

Contact H J for questions regarding:

  • New product development
  • Cost reduction projects
  • Quality and problem solving
  • Material and application evaluation

Overview of Forgings

Forging process

Basic steps include:

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  • Cutting of the material
  • Pre heat the forging dies
  • Heating of the material
  • Forging operation
  • Cooling of the forged part

Impression Die forming

  • Hammer
  • Press
  • Horizontal
    
  • Cold forging process
  • Open Die forging process
  • Rolled Ring forging process

What are typical forging temperatures?

Ferrous metals

  • Carbon and Alloy Steel: 2,250 F (1,232 C)

Non ferrous metals

  • Brass: 1,500 F (816 C)
  • Copper: 1,650 F (899 C)
  • Aluminum: 1,000 F (538 C)
      

Design considerations for Forgings - 

  • Parting line location
  • Recommended draft angles - 
    • Aluminum: 0 2 deg
    • Copper alloys (Brass): 0 3 deg
    • Steel: 5 7 deg
  • Size of the part
  • Part configuration
  • Radii and Fillets
  • No sharp corners
  • Minimum fillet radius:
    • 0.130 0.250” (3.30 6.35 mm)
  • Machine allowance
    • Typically 0.060” (1.52 mm)

Secondary operations for Forgings

  • Heat treating
  • Coining
  • Cleaning
  • Packaging
    

Overview of Forgings

Casting processes

  • Sand casting
  • Permanent mold casting
  • Die casting
  • Investment (lost wax) casting

Sand Casting

Sand castings offer very competitive tooling costs (upfront investment)

  • Capabilities
    • Hold max tolerances of +/ 0.032” (+/ 0.81mm)
    • Thinnest section castable is 0.100” (2.54mm)
    • Surface finish is fair to good
    • May be part size restrictions
    • Good for all metal alloys
  • Types:
    • Green sand:
      • less expensive, good for lower volumes
    • Sodium silicate:
      • higher quality, more repeatable for larger volumes

Permanent mold casting

Permanent mold tooling costs are slightly higher than sand cast, but still competitive

Capabilities:

  • Hold max tolerances of +/ 0.020” (+/ 0.51mm)
  • Thinnest section castable is 0.125” (3.17mm
  • Surface finish is good
  • Very good for large part designs
  • Best for aluminum and copper base alloys
  • Low volume part cost is competitive

Die casting

Tooling costs are more expensive due to complexity

Capabilities:

  • Hold max tolerances of +/ 0.005” (+/ 0.127mm)
  • Thinnest section castable is 0.030” (0.76mm)
  • Surface finish is the best
  • Good for aluminum base alloys
  • Competitiveness
    • Most competitive method in very high volumes
    • Least competitive method in low volumes
              

Investment casting

Tooling costs are between permanent mold and die casting

Capabilities:

  • Hold max tolerances of +/ 0.015” (+/ 0.38mm)
  • Thinnest section castable is 0.063” (1.6mm)
  • Surface finish is good
  • Good for all ferrous and non ferrous alloys
  • Competitiveness
    • Least competitive method in very high volumes
    • Mid competitive method in low volumes

Case studies

Case study: Copper forged fuse end

Current process:
  • Copper sand casting, machined, silver plated

Issues:

  • Porosity and non fill in critical areas
  • Not cost effective

Resolution:

  • Copper forging, machined, silver plated

Conclusion:

  • Forging process supplying fully formed and solid part per print at a substantial cost reduction for the customer.

Case study: Two piece universal clamp

Current process:

  • Brass upset forging, tin plated
Issues:
  • Part not meeting specified torque requirements
Resolution:
  • Brass flat forging, tin plated
Conclusion:
  • Discovered that torque was being applied parallel to the grain and causing failures; changed direction of forging grain and solved the issue.

Case studies: Convert two piece designs to single piece

                       

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