The Forging Technology: Cold Upsetting and Cold Forging

The Forging Technology: Cold Upsetting and Cold Forging

Is there are differences between cold upsetting and cold forging? Well, there are some slight differences, and that’s what we have covered in this article. We have looked at both of them individually and then compare them to get a clear perspective. Read on this article to learn more about these two:

What Is Cold Forging/Cold Extrusion?

Cold forging or cold extrusion is a form of forging that works on the billet or the blanks at room temperature. The forging process is also referred to as volume forming and is sometimes categorized as one of the stamping processes. But the bottom line is that it is a forging method that does not need heating of the metal blanks being forged.

The cold forging process has three main components: forging material, molds, and press equipment. The choice of the material varies depending on the product. The molds give the pressed billet the desired shape and size. For the equipment, they are usually hydraulic press that provides compression force.

Characteristics Of Cold Forging

The characteristics of cold forging can be categorized into two main parts: advantages and shortcomings. We are going to look at both cases.

Advantages of cold forging

There are many good things you get from cold forging you might not get from other forms of volume forming. Here are some of the main advantages.

1. No Material Waste

When it comes to material utilization, cold forging offers the best features. It does not have material waste compared to other forming techniques such as casting. So, if you are looking for material usage, go for cold extrusion.

1. High Production Efficiency

The level of production efficiency in cold forging is one of the best in the industry. With cold forging, you can do mass production within a very short time. When the unit is set, it’s easy for mass production.

1. High Precision

Did you know that cold forging produces one of the best precision levels in forging? Well, this is a forming technology that produces near shape products.

1. Strength Performance

The cold forging deformation process does not reduce the hardening of the material. The forged metal grains still take the shape of the new image, and that’s what enhances hardness and strength.

Cold Forging Shortcoming

Despite the numerous good things that you get from cold, there are also a handful of limitations. Some of these shortcomings include:

1. Mode Requirements

One of the biggest challenges is the mold requirements because they are too high. From the materials, the machining equipment to the computerized system can be extremely expensive. It also takes some time to have the molds formed.

1. Not Suitable Of Small Production

Because of the level of investments and the work that goes into the design and making of the molds, it makes it very expensive for small-scale production. So, you can only work on larger orders to get value for money.

1. Higher Material Requirements

The requirements for cold forging materials are very high. You need to have some of the material pre-heated a bit to reduce deformation resistance. You also need to have the blanks lubricated to reduce friction during forging.

What is Cold Upsetting Forging?

Cold upsetting forging is a forging process that uses non-cutting metal pressure machining. Like cold forging, it is a deformation method that uses molds, but the difference is it uses external force to make parts.

The forging method is widest used for the production of small parts such as bolts, nuts, pins, rivets, and screws. The cold upsetting method works great where there is a need for large volumes. It works great for mass production because of the expensive setting.

Some of the advantages of cold upsetting forging are high productivity and product quality. The process has great material utilization and a low cost of labor.

Is Cold Upsetting And Cold Forging The Same Thing?

Both are deformation processes but using very different ways of operation. For the cold forging, you can use it for a range of products. But for the cold upsetting, it forged smaller work tools and more fastening tools. The cold upsetting forging may be a bit simpler in operating and does not have complex machinery as with cold forging. These are just some of the main differences between these two forging processes. So, they are the same in many ways but different when it comes to operation.