Why It Is Preferable To Repair Rather Than Replace Hot Forging Dies?
Process efficiency and cost saving initiatives are commonplace in modern industry and even more so considering the current economic climate. Reducing machine down time and increasing productivity are essential in any industry and this is only too apparent in the hot forging sector. The ability to reclaim and reuse hot forging dies rather than scrapping them after their useful life offers significant economic benefits to the end users.
What is Hot Forging?
Hot forging is the shaping of a metal at a high temperature (above the materials recrystallization temperature) allowing it to be formed into the desired profile. The resulting grain structure enhances the strength and toughness of the forged component. Modern hot forging on an industrial scale is typically carried out automatically by a machine and can produce close to finished components requiring little further processing or machining. This dramatically speeds up the forging process and therefore productivity.
Forge Die Repair
Dependent on the forging application and the profile of the part being forged, hot forging dies can be subjected to a range of different mechanisms of degradation. Mechanical loading, abrasion, thermal cycling and impact are just a few factors that contribute to increased wear of a die. Hot forging dies can represent a significant cost it is, therefore, preferable to reclaim dies where possible as opposed to scrapping. Moreover, the knock-on effect of premature die failure, through reduced productivity and increased forge down time, can be costly.
The Forgeweld process provides the ability to reclaim forging dies by providing the equipment, the consumable and the know how to enable cost effective die reclamation. In addition, it offers the users the ability to optimise the metallurgy of working surface of the die by selecting consumables with enhanced performance compared to the original die material. Die reclamation using the Forgeweld consumables can therefore result in significant savings by reducing new die purchases and increased production life.
To find out more about die reclamation or to find a company that offers services specifically for the repair and reclamation of dies, please contact us or visit our Forgeweld page: http://corewire.com/pages/forgeweld.php