Forging is a process in which material is shaped by the application of localized compressive forces exerted manually or with power hammers, presses or special forging machines.
The process may be carried out on materials in either hot or cold state.
When forging is done cold, processes are given special names. Therefore, the term forging usually implies hot forging carried out at temperatures which are above the recrystallization temperature of the material.
Forging is an effective method for producing many useful shapes. The process is generally used to produce discrete parts.
Typical forged parts include rivets, bolts, crane hooks, connecting rods, gears, turbine shafts, hand tools, railroads, and a variety of structural components used to manufacture machinery.
The forged parts have good strength and toughness; they can be used reliably for highly stressed and critical applications.
