Press forging capabilities:
We have available three mid-west press forging facilities to provide your needs From ounces to 200 lbs. in carbon, alloy, stainless steel, brass, bronze and aluminum. Mechanical forging presses from 1,300 to 6,000 tons all with electric induction heat. Also available is a Mechanical Screw Press.
Our forge equipment’s range of sizes with built-in redundancies allows us to produce almost any forging product. In addition, we can accommodate your needs with wide-ranging forming practices for complex geometric shapes. We have significant experience adapting existing tools as well, especially if you have a die you would like to transfer.
We have our engineering team in-house with complex design capabilities for whatever forging needs you may have. We produce Closed-Die press forgings that have the ability to form into the complex designs that are made by our engineers per customer request.
There are a variety of heat treatment options that are available for what best fits the needs of the part ordered by the customer. We do our heat treatments in-house. This allows us complete control over your part from start to finish to ensure the best product possible will be made.
In-House Post-Forge Solutions:
- Assembly
- Shot Blasting
- Bead Blasting
- Vibro Peen Marking
- Heat Treating
- Magnetic Particle Inspection
- Hardness Testing
- Non-Destructive Testing
Engineering:
We are dedicated to providing the best solutions for our customers. Each job provides unique obstacles, which is why continuous investment in the engineering process is imperative. Our Engineering group has the internal resources needed to evaluate new products, troubleshoot processes, and inspect results. This gives engineers the ability to respond quickly and effectively to our customer’s needs.
Some Of The Processes Include:
- Simulation Software
- CAD Software
- CMM Machines
- Romer 3-D Scanning
- CNC Machines
Heat Treat Capabilities:
Heat treatment occurs at the end of the forging process to change the properties of the forged steel. The type of heat treatment performed is determined by the end-use application of the item. We offer several types of heat treatment.
Quenching and Tempering
Quenching is a process used to harden steel and help it to resist wear by reducing the crystal grain size. To do this, the metal is first heated to a specified temperature and then held there for a certain amount of time. After being held at that temperature, the steel needs to be rapidly cooled, which happens during the quenching process. Once it’s quenched, the steel is washed, and then the tempering process begins. This needs to be done quickly to avoid deforming or cracking the parts. This cooling process occurs by submerging the item in liquid, usually water or oil. At our facilities, we use oil to quench our items, followed later by a wash in water to remove the oily residue.
Annealing
Annealing is a form of heat treatment that will soften the metal, improve grain structure, and relieve internal stresses. To perform this, the steel is placed in a furnace large enough for the heat to completely circulate around the item. Once it has reached a specified temperature, the steel is then slowly cooled by turning the furnace off. Other cooling options include placing the item in a low heat conductivity substance, such as sand or ashes.
Normalizing
The process of normalizing steel is similar to annealing, but the main difference is that the normalizing process includes heating the steel to a much higher temperature. Normalizing the steel makes the item better for machinability and also refines the grain structure. Once the steel is heated to the specified temperature, it is then air-cooled until it reaches room temperature.
Normalizing and Tempering
Normalizing is typically cooled by air, but there are instances when the cooling process needs to be altered. In these cases, the normalizing process is done, and then it is tempered within a furnace. This allows us to control the cooling time and adjust it so the metal hits a specific hardness range.