Aluminum forging is the process of heating and shaping a work piece
using compression or a similar force. There are many different types
and methods of aluminum forging with various applications. Often
useful for industrial, commercial or specialized applications, forging has many advantages
over other methods of aluminum fabrication. Volume and certain
physical properties, for instance, are often easy to control.
The type of forging can vary, depending on the desired product. Many
types of forging include heating and pressing a piece of aluminum,
though cold forging is available for specialized pieces. Some
examples include conventional and seamless forging. Conventional
aluminum forging generally presses two heated pieces of aluminum
stock together with a two-sided press. Seamless forging is much the
same but utilizes precision forges or secondary processes to
complete a work piece.
Forging methods usually change with the application but can vary
substantially beyond the basic design. This often makes aluminum
forging an attractive method of production in industrial, commercial
and specialized applications. If custom orders or unique parts are
required, aluminum forging can be designed to compensate. Depending
on the situation, some methods of forging aluminum can have
significant advantages over other methods.
The advantages of aluminum forging include easy replication, mass
production and reduced cost. Once a die has been created and a
forging process begun, reproduction of the same piece is restricted
only by the amount of aluminum available. This makes mass production
of aluminum pieces possible and potentially more cost effective than
other methods, because product cost decreases with an increase in
volume.
Volume often alters the advantages and disadvantages of certain
types of forging. Mass production demands high precision over large
volumes to assure product quality and, as a result, automated
forging processes are often used. On the other hand, manual aluminum
forging often requires small forges with direct access to heating or
processing elements to control product quality. Manual forges are
often considered best for fulfilling custom or specialized product
demands, because the presses used are usually interchangeable.
Physical properties can be monitored and controlled through aluminum
forging as well. The strength and tolerances of a product, for
instance, can be adjusted by changing the forces exerted on a work
piece. This can be helpful when creating functional or decorative
pieces with different strength and tolerance requirements. This type
of forging also can allow for easier manipulation of grain structure
than other methods.
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