Cold forging is a critically important manufacturing process used to shape metal parts at room temperature or slightly above room temperature. It induces microstructural changes that can greatly influence material properties. Unlike hot forging, which involves heating the metal above its recrystallization temperature, cold forging relies on the plastic deformation of the metal at lower temperatures. Common types of cold-forging processes include: cold heading, cold extrusion, coining, swaging, and cold forging with rolling.
This article will discuss what cold forging is, its process, materials used, types, and advantages.
Table of Contents
What Is Cold Forging?
Cold forging, cold forming, or cold heading is a class of metalworking processes. It is used to shape metal parts at room temperature or slightly above, by plastic deformation of the metal to force it to reflect the shape and dimensions of a tool used for the purpose.
What Is the Process of Cold Forging?
Listed below is the process of cold forging:
Initial State: The metal consists of a crystalline structure, typically arranged in a lattice pattern. These crystals, or grains, have well-defined boundaries. As a rule, cold forging is applied to the material in an annealed or normalized state, in which grain sizes are maximized, resulting in optimum ductility.
Application of Stress: When external pressure or impulse is applied during cold forging, it causes the metal grains to deform and slip at planar faces and grain boundaries. This allows deformation to occur.
Grain Deformation: As the external force is applied, the grains begin to deform. Dislocations, or defects, form within the crystal lattice as atoms are pushed out of their original positions. This process disrupts the crystal lattice structure, causing atoms to move and dislocate within the lattice planes. It can result in work hardening, in many materials, so the typical crystal size is smaller and there are large residual stresses at the grain boundaries.
Plastic Flow: As deformation continues, the dislocations move and interact with each other, allowing the metal to flow and reflect the shape of the die cavity. This plastic flow occurs along slip planes within the crystal lattice, in which atoms can easily rearrange themselves without fracture, in more ductile materials.
Grain Refinement: The deformation process also leads to grain refinement, in which the original larger grains are broken down into smaller, typically more uniform grains. This refinement improves the mechanical properties of the material, such as strength and hardness (work hardening).
Cold forging at a crystalline level involves the controlled deformation of metal grains through the movement of dislocations within the crystal lattice structure. This process results in the shaping of the metal into the desired form while improving its mechanical properties.
What Is the Temperature Used in Cold Forging?
Cold forging is performed at room temperature or slightly above room temperature. The process relies on the plastic deformation of the metal at lower temperatures. The specific temperature range for cold forging can vary depending on the type of metal being forged, its properties, and the requirements of the manufacturing process. In general, cold forging is performed at temperatures below the recrystallization temperature of the metal. Only a limited number of alloys, generally with a high lead (Pb) content, can undergo recrystallization at room temperature. This process exploits controlled plastic deformation of the metal without the need for heat-softening and resulting fracture.
For most metals, cold forging is carried out within the range of 20 °C to 200 °C. At these temperatures, the metal retains its strength and hardness. This allows for precise shaping and forming of parts while minimizing the risk of material degradation or loss of mechanical properties.
How Does Temperature Control Affect Cold-Forged Component Quality?
Temperature control plays a crucial role in cold-forging processes and can significantly affect the quality of cold-forged components. It helps maintain the appropriate material ductility, formability, dimensional accuracy, microstructure, and surface finish. For example, too low a temperature can increase deformation resistance, leading to tool wear and part defects. Too high a temperature, on the other hand, can cause the material to soften excessively, resulting in poor dimensional accuracy and surface finish. By carefully controlling temperature parameters throughout the forging process, manufacturers can produce high-quality components with little need for post-work.
What Are the Materials That Can Be Cold Forged?
Choosing the most appropriate material for a process involves complex decision-making, depending on a range of factors. Listed below are some of the materials used in cold forging:
1. Aluminum
Cold forging of aluminum alloys involves shaping metal parts at room temperature or slightly above. Aluminum alloys are chosen for cold forging based on the properties of the grade and its suitability for cold forging. Commonly used aluminum alloys for cold forging include: the 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx series, all of which offer good formability, strength improvement through forging, and corrosion resistance in mild environments.
Overall, cold forging of aluminum alloys offers advantages such as: improved mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy in a one-stage process, and good surface finish compared to traditional machining processes. It is widely used in industries such as: automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics for producing a huge variety of moderate-stress components with complex shapes and tight tolerances.
2. Steel
Cold forging of steel also involves shaping metal parts at room temperature or slightly above. Material selection of steel alloys is based on the alloy properties and known suitability for cold forging. Commonly used steel alloys for cold forging include: medium- and high-carbon steels, various alloy steels, and stainless steels, which offer good formability, strength, and durability.
Cold forging of steel delivers improved mechanical properties, high dimensional accuracy, and good surface finish compared with traditional machining processes. It is widely used in: automotive, aerospace, construction components, and industrial product manufacturing for producing components with complex shapes, beneficial grain characteristics, good mechanical properties, and tight tolerances.
3. Titanium
Cold forging of titanium also involves shaping one-stage finished parts at room temperature or slightly above. Titanium alloys are chosen based on alloy properties and suitability for cold forging. Titanium alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn, and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo offer good formability, strength, and excellent corrosion resistance, making them suitable for cold forging.
Cold forging of titanium offers significant advantages over alternative net-shape manufacturing methods. It delivers improved mechanical properties, high dimensional accuracy, and good surface finish compared, for example, to CNC machining. It is used in: aerospace, medical, and automotive components for producing parts with complex shapes and high strength-to-weight ratios.
The cold forging of titanium requires more skill than for most other metals and requires more specialized equipment and tooling due to the material’s unique properties and challenges.
4. Copper
Cold forging of copper at room temperature or slightly elevated levels is used to make finished parts of high cosmetic and engineering quality. Copper alloys are selected for this approach based on ductility, defining suitability for cold forging. Commonly cold-forged copper alloys include: C10100 (oxygen-free electronic copper), C11000 (electrolytic tough pitch copper), and C36000 (free-cutting brass). These alloys offer good formability, conductivity, and corrosion resistance.
Cold forging of copper offers advantages such as: improved mechanical properties, dimensional precision without post-processing, and controllable surface finish/texture, relative to other net-shape manufacturing methods. It is used in electronics, plumbing, automotive, and construction for producing components with high thermal and electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and tight tolerances. Additionally, cold forging of copper is an environmentally friendly process as it requires minimal energy consumption and produces little to no waste.
5. Brass
Brass is also forged at room temperature. This again produces low post-work parts of high quality. Brass alloys are chosen based on their ductility as suitable for cold forging. Brass alloys for cold forging include: C36000 (free-cutting brass), C46400 (naval brass), and C69300 (high-copper alloy). These alloys offer good formability, machinability whenever required, and generally good corrosion resistance.
Cold forging of brass results in improved mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy, and good surface finish compared to traditional machining processes. It is used for: plumbing components, automotive parts, electrical components, and various decorative and functional hardware. Brass offers good corrosion resistance, good electrical and thermal conductivity, good functional strength, wear resilience, and decorative appearance. Once again, this is an environmentally friendly process as it requires minimal energy consumption and produces little to no waste.
6. Stainless Steel
Stainless steels are commonly cold-forged, although the tooling and equipment may require extra strength as the material is considerably more resistant to ductile flow than many other metals/alloys.
Stainless steel alloys are chosen primarily for their ductility and their ability to undergo sufficient “work” (distorting flow) without excess embrittlement. Stainless steel alloys for cold forging include austenitic grades such as 304 (A2) and 316 (A4), as well as some martensitic and ferritic grades. These alloys offer good corrosion resistance in most non-aggressive environments combined with high strength and toughness.
Cold forging of stainless steel delivers considerably improved mechanical properties, good dimensional accuracy, and control of surface finish compared to machining or casting processes. It is used extensively in: automotive, aerospace, construction elements, and general equipment manufacturing, delivering components with high corrosion resistance, strength, and durability.
7. Nickel Alloys
Cold forging of nickel alloys involves greater challenges in shaping parts with no preheating.
Material selection for nickel alloys involves having sufficient ductility to be capable of cold forging. This may involve annealing to improve ductility and it commonly involves multistage forging for larger distortions and greater flow requirements. Nickel alloys for cold forging include: Inconel® (more commonly Inconel® 625 and Inconel® 718), Hastelloy® (often Hastelloy® C-276), and Monel® (generally limited to Monel® 400). These alloys offer outstanding corrosion resistance even in aggressive and hot environments, considerable high-temperature strength, and excellent mechanical properties.
Cold forging of high-nickel alloys delivers elevated mechanical properties, high dimensional accuracy, and good control of surface finish, unlike casting, machining, or hot forging. It is used in aerospace (particularly engine combustion-related parts), chemical processing for the most aggressive environments, high-grade marine fixtures, and oil and gas extraction/processing. These alloys produce components with high corrosion resistance, resilience at high heat levels, and extreme strength.
8. High-Strength Alloys
High-strength alloys are a distinct category of materials that sit across several areas of the metals spectrum. They have an astonishing range of properties, constituents, and extreme applications. They include: titanium alloys, aluminum/magnesium alloys, nickel and chromium superalloys, and some extreme examples in the stainless steel family.
Cold forging of various types is commonly applicable to these materials, offering the typical benefits of the process family. These include: improved mechanical properties, surface finish, and manufacturing-process efficiency by single-stage, net-shape forming, and low requirements for follow-on or finishing processes.
Components as diverse as gear selector arms (magnesium alloys), aileron actuators for commercial aircraft (stainless steels or magnesium/aluminum alloys), and thrust vector devices to endure jet reheat (titanium alloys) are typically cold forged.
How Does the Choice of Material Impact the Cold-Forging Process?
The choice of material has a huge impact on the cold-forging process. Different materials have different degrees of formability. Materials with higher ductility and lower strength are generally more formable and easier to cold forge.
Additionally, harder (and elevated work-hardening) materials tend to cause more wear on forging dies and tools. This is due to increased friction during the extensive sliding contacts implicit in plastic flow. Harder materials also have very much higher contact pressures during forging. Abrasive materials such as those with hard inclusions (like carbides and nitrides) can accelerate tool wear. Finally, materials with higher strength and hardness typically require greater force application and energy to deform plastically. As a result, forging presses will require greater force and consume more power when processing harder materials.
What Are Examples of Cold Forging?
Listed below are examples of cold forging:
Fastener heads are formed by cold heading and upset forging.
Automotive gears are either finish-forged from cast precursors or cold forged from blanks.
Orthopedic implants and prosthetic components are cold forged from advanced stainless steels, nickel superalloys, and titanium.
Hub and neck components in shafts are reverse extruded or swaged by cold forging.
What Are the Different Types of Cold Forging?
Listed below are the different types of cold forging:
1. Coining
Coining is a form of cold-forging process used to achieve extremely precise dimensions, tight tolerances, and fine surface finishes.
Coining is a small-scale process with very fine tooling that is used in the production of precision components such as: coins, medals, jewelry, electronic connectors, and optical components, in which tight tolerances and fine surface finishes are critical.
2. Swaging
Swaging is used to reduce or shape the diameter of a metal rod, tube, or wire by applying rolling compressive forces. It can be conducted using various methods, including: rotary swaging, radial swaging, and axial swaging.
Swaging is widely used for producing necks/reductions in components such as: shafts, fasteners, bearings, and hydraulic fittings. It delivers high production rates, tight tolerances, and improved mechanical properties.
3. Upset Forging
Upset forging, also known as heading or upsetting, is used to increase the cross-sectional area of a workpiece by compressing its length. This process is key to the manufacturing of fasteners, bolts, screws, and other components.
It is a versatile and efficient process for forming heads onto workpieces while simultaneously improving their mechanical properties.
4. Hubbing
Hubbing as a forging process involves the creation of a central hub or boss on a workpiece through controlled deformation of the material. This process is commonly used in the manufacture of gears, pulleys, wheels, and other components in which a central mounting point or engagement feature is required.
Hubbing as a forging process offers several advantages, including: high production rates, excellent material utilization, and the ability to produce complex shapes with tight tolerances and superior mechanical properties/grain structure without material removal.
5. Forward Extrusion
Forward extrusion is a metalworking process used to create components with a specific cross-sectional area by forcing a billet or slug of metal through a die. This is used in the manufacturing of rods, tubes, etc.
Forward extrusion offers high production rates, excellent material utilization, and the ability to produce complex shapes with tight tolerances and superior mechanical properties in a single step.
6. Backward Extrusion
Backward extrusion, also known as reverse extrusion or indirect extrusion, is a metalworking process used to create components with a specific cross-sectional shape by forcing a die into a stationary billet of metal. Unlike forward extrusion in which the billet moves through the die, in backward extrusion, the die moves into the billet.
Backward extrusion offers advantages such as: excellent material utilization, the ability to produce components with complex shapes, and improved surface finish due to reduced contact between the billet and the die. It is commonly used in making small, blind vessels such as soda cans.
What Is the Most Common Type of Cold Forging Being Used in Manufacturing?
The most common type of cold forging used in manufacturing is known as “cold heading” or “cold heading and upsetting.” Virtually every screw, bolt, and rivet has a head formed by cold heading.
What Are the Typical Applications of Cold Forging in Various Industries?
Cold forging is employed across most metal manufacturing sectors for producing a huge range of components. Some typical applications include:
Automotive: Fasteners (bolts, nuts, screws), steering and suspension parts (tie rods, ball joints), engine components (connecting rods, crankshafts), transmission parts (gears, shafts), and brake system components (caliper bolts, pistons).
Aerospace: Aircraft fasteners (rivets, bolts, pins), landing-gear components (struts, hinges), engine parts (turbine blades, compressor discs), and structural fittings and brackets.
Construction: Structural connectors (bolts, anchor bolts), fasteners for construction applications (screws, nails), metal brackets, and hangers, and window and door hardware.
Electronics and Electrical: Electrical contacts and connectors, terminal pins and sockets, heat sinks and cooling components, and sensor housings and mounting brackets.
Medical: Orthopedic implants (bone screws, plates), surgical instruments (forceps, scissors), dental instruments (dental implants, brackets), and prosthesis components.
Consumer Goods: Hand tools (wrenches, pliers), kitchen utensils and appliances (cutlery, cookware), sporting goods (golf club heads, bicycle components), and locks and hardware.
What Are the Advantages of Cold Forging Over Traditional Hot Forging?
Cold forging offers several advantages over traditional hot forging processes such as:
Produces less material waste compared to hot forging, with minimal or no flash generated during the forging process.
Results in improved mechanical properties of the finished parts. The deformation at room temperature induces work hardening, enhancing the strength and durability of the components.
Achieve tighter dimensional tolerances and precise geometries compared to hot forging.
Produces parts with smoother surface finishes compared to hot forging, lacking scale and oxidation, which obviates the need for additional finishing operations.
Well-suited to producing parts with intricate shapes and complex features.
Faster and more cost-effective for high-volume production runs compared to hot forging processes.
Requires less energy compared to hot forging processes.
What Are the Best Cold Forging Manufacturers?
Some examples of the best cold forging manufacturers are:
For automotive components, various Japanese cold forging suppliers are leaders in the field. A good example is Hiraguchi-Seitan.
For fasteners, leading US suppliers are typified by National Bolt & Nut Corp.
For exotic materials, many market leaders can be found, typified by The Federal Group USA.
How To Choose the Best Cold Forging Manufacturers?
Choosing the best cold forging manufacturers involves several considerations to ensure you find a reliable and capable partner for your manufacturing needs. Some basic steps in selection are:
Clearly define your project requirements, including: the type of components you need, desired quantities, quality standards, and delivery timelines.
Conduct thorough research to identify potential cold forging manufacturers, using: online directories, industry associations, trade shows, and referrals.
Evaluate the capabilities and experience of each manufacturer on your list including their location and logistical capabilities.
Verify that the manufacturer adheres to industry quality standards and certifications relevant to your industry and product requirements.
Request samples of previous work and ask for references from past clients.
Obtain quotes from multiple manufacturers and compare pricing, including: setup costs, tooling expenses, unit costs, and any additional fees or charges.
How Can Thomasnet® Help in Looking for Cold Forging Manufacturers?
Thomasnet® is a powerful online directory and technical support resource for finding cold forging manufacturers and suppliers. They offer:
Comprehensive supplier database with powerful user tools
Advanced search filters
Detailed company profiles
RFQ tools
Supplier diversity, both in skills and geography
Verified and reliable assessments
Industry insights and resources
Thomasnet® is an empowering toolset for identifying, evaluating, and connecting with cold forging manufacturers who can meet your specific requirements and contribute to the success of your projects. If you’re looking for a local supplier or a specialized manufacturer with unique capabilities, Thomasnet® can help streamline your sourcing process and facilitate collaboration with trusted partners.
What Are the Key Differences Between Cold Forging and Other Stamping Methods?
Forging and stamping are both processes that form potentially complex shapes in metal components. In both cases, they can be performed hot or cold, but in this comparison, only cold processing is considered. Some differences are listed below:
Cold forging distorts three-dimensional metal parts by imposing plastic flow in three dimensions. Cold stamping forms three-dimensional net shapes from sheet material by plastic deformation. Cold forging is typically used for solid, cylindrical, or prismatic billets of metal, for producing components with relatively small cross sections and complex shapes. Cold stamping is used for sheet metal or thin-walled components, to produce parts with larger surface areas and relatively thin cross sections.
Cold forging typically requires complex tooling and fixtures to shape the metal accurately. Tooling costs can be significant, especially for complex geometries. Stamping processes generally involve simpler tooling, depending on the complexity of the part. Tooling costs can vary depending on the specific stamping operation.
Cold forging can improve the mechanical properties of the material, including: strength, hardness, and dimensional accuracy, due to work hardening during deformation. Stamping processes can also alter material properties, though often in counter-productive ways.
Is Cold Forging More Affordable Than Hot Forging?
It depends. The affordability of cold forging compared to hot forging depends on various factors such as: the specific requirements of the manufacturing project, the material being forged, the complexity of the part, and the production volume. As a rule, for small components with moderate flow requirements, cold forging is lower cost and faster, requiring lower post-processing for finished net-shape parts.
Differentials in cost result from material, tooling costs, energy, and labor costs as well as the production volume, part complexity, and quality requirements.
What Is the Difference Between Cold Forging and Hot Forging?
Cold forging and hot forging are both metalworking processes used to plastically shape metal components into final forms. Their differences are listed below:
Cold forging is performed at or near room temperature, with the material in a ductile solid state throughout the process. Hot forging involves heating the metal to high temperatures above its recrystallization temperature but below its melting point. The material is held above its glass transition temperature anddeformed while in a heated, malleable state.
In cold forging, the material undergoes plastic deformation at room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures. The deformation process causes work hardening, which increases the material’s strength and hardness. In hot forging, the material is heated to temperatures at which it becomes highly ductile and malleable. It undergoes plastic deformation with minimal resistance, allowing for easier shaping and forming.
Cold forging involves higher forming forces and requires more complex tooling compared to hot forging. Hot forging requires lower forming forces compared to cold forging because the material is more ductile and easier to deform at elevated temperatures.
Cold forging often produces parts with smoother surface finishes due to the lack of heat/oxidation and the well-lubricated flow in the die. Hot forging produces parts with surface scale or oxidation due to the high temperatures involved. Additional finishing operations such as shot blasting or machining are required.
Cold forging can improve the mechanical properties of the material, including strength, hardness, and dimensional accuracy. Hot forging can also alter material properties, including grain structure and mechanical properties, depending on the temperature and strain rates during forming.
Cold forging is suitable for producing small to medium parts with relatively complex shapes and tight tolerances. Hot forging is preferred for larger parts or components with simple geometries that require high strength and toughness.
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