In orbital cold forging a fixed bottom die and a moveable/orbiting top punch come together to form complex geometric workpieces with finished dimensional accuracy in a single forging operation. The orbiting upper die rolls over a metal blank while the bottom die is raised hydraulically. The billet is kneaded into the bottom die with relatively little force to produce a near net shape or finished workpiece.

Advantages of orbital forging:

• Economical:
• No material waste — Near net shaping is a chipless operation
• Simplifies manufacturing — eliminates expensive secondary machining and brazing operations
• Inexpensive long life tooling
• Automated material handling — All presses equipped with robotic loading and unloading
• Increased material strength:
• Strength, hardness and surface finish improved through orbital cold working
• Grain structures rearranged
• Less expensive materials achieve tensile strength upgrades after the orbital cold working process
• Consistent quality:
• Higher strength to weight ratios in structural components
• Low friction forging operation extends die life
• Repeatable low force forging process yields accurate manufacturing runs

KEYWORDS for this process: forgers