Hot forging involves shaping a mostly metallic semi-finished product (such as a bar, tube, or strip section) after it has been heated to a temperature range specific to the material. For steel, this temperature is typically around 1200°C, which makes the material easier to shape, so that even complex components with high strength and high quality can be produced. Forged components play a significant role in resource conservation by reducing material usage and weight both during production and in application.
Cold forging is a process in which a workpiece is reshaped without the need for prior heating. The material is formed using pressure or tensile forces, which can alter its properties and structure. By leveraging these property changes, high-strength workpieces with excellent surface quality can be produced, often closely resembling the required final shape. This minimizes the need for extensive post-processing of near-net-shape components.
In metal processing, heat treatment refers to processes used to adjust the technological properties of materials at elevated temperatures. Depending on the desired properties and the material type, the formed parts are either cooled down from the forging heat in a controlled manner or prepared optimally for subsequent production steps or their intended application.
Heat treatment processes at Musashi include: