Cold Forming and Extrusion of Steel: Economics and Future Applications

Abstract In estimating the cost of manufacturing a specific component by cold forging it is usual to assume a probable life of the forming tools on the basis of production experience in cold forging approximately similar components, or in undertaking essentially similar forging operations. Companies with extensive experience of cold-forging have acquired some statistical data on the lives of tools under similar conditions and have some knowledge of the variability of tool life due to such extraneous factors as slight differences in the metallurgical condition of the tool steel, differences in tool-finishing operations, and variability of work material. All of these can greatly influence the performance of tooling. Those new to the cold-forging field have no basic data for predicting tool life and find it difficult to quote in a keenly competitive field