Development and Innovation of Forging Technology
Forging is a process of producing steel parts and is one of the most important manufacturing processes. It has the advantages of compact structure, excellent mechanical properties and no internal defects, making it an irreplaceable manufacturing process in the forging industry. As the power of the forging process technology increases, various new materials and new varieties of forgings have come out one after another, and their comprehensive performance has also been improved.
Over the course of history, forging technology kept on improving and advancing. In the 19th century, the piston forging process was invented, replacing the hammering method, which drastically increased the output rate and decreased the production cost. This was the beginning of the industrialization of foundry and forging. Mechanical testing and chemical analysis allowed different alloy materials to be combined in order to achieve better performance of forgings parts, and this consequently enabled larger components to be produced. In the early 20th century, forging and heat treatment technology were further developed, leading to a series of modern forging and heat treatments. This improvement on forging technology provided the industry with improved parts that has greater performance and durability.
The introduction of modern forging machines revolutionized the way forging process is done and it has helped to push forging technology even further. Over the past few decades, the more popular mechanical forging processes such as hydraulic forging, CNC forging, and die forging have drastically increased the accuracy, speed and efficiency of the forging process. The automation control has also been significantly improved, making it possible to produce complex, precise components with minimal human input. Forging technology has become even more advanced with the integration of more sophisticated equipment, such as robot manipulators, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and other smart systems. These advances have been beneficial in improving the production capacity and quality of forgings.
In addition to mechanical advances, the forging process is continuously being revolutionized through the development of new materials and technologies. Materials such as superalloys, ceramics, high-density composites, and composites made from refractory metals are enabling higher strength, higher temperature capabilities, and improved corrosion and oxidation resistance in forgings. Thermal-mechanical processes such as surface induction hardening are also providing the capability to improve parts with greater wear resistance, fatigue strength and higher stress capabilities.
The forging process is increasingly being integrated with other manufacturing techniques such as laser cutting, laser welding, and machining. These techniques make it easier to create complex shapes and reproducible surfaces. Furthermore, new computer-aided software is making it easier to generate more precise forging designs as well as helping to optimize torque and speed parameters in order to provide improved performance and energy efficiency in the forging process.
Overall, the development and innovation of forging technology are continually causing advancements in productivity, reliability, and quality. These advances are not only improving performance, they are also reducing production costs, making it easier to mass-produce complex components with superior quality to meet the demands of today’s market. Forging continues to be an essential manufacturing process and will remain so for many years to come.
