RESEARCH ON THE WARM FORGING OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS: DEVELOPMENT OF A FORMULA TO DESCRIBE THE SOFTENING BEHAVIOR OF A2011 IN FORGING PROCESS

To understand the forming behaviour of aluminum alloys, the upsetting test of aluminum alloys at evaluated temperature is conducted. Because in warm forging the flow stress decreases with increasing straining, which is so-called work softening, no appropriate material formulation is available. For the evaluation of flow stress of aluminum alloys in warm forging processes, in this paper, a formula is derived by analyzing the stress data measured at various temperatures. It is demonstrated that the formula fits the flow stress obtained from experiment.

Analysis and Optimization on Factors Affecting Forming Quality of Half Axle Gears Warm Precision Forging

Half axle gears is produced by precision forging popularly because of the advantages in minimum machining allowances, lower material consumption and good service properties. But the forming quality of precision forging is difficult to control. Many simulations and analysis of precision forging process were taken by previous researchers. But no concrete method is proposed to evaluate and optimize the forming quality of half axel gears. The primary purpose of this work is improving the forming quality of half axel gears by analyzing and optimizing the affected factors of forming quality. The enclosed-die warm forging process of half axle gears was developed, and a new type of die-set used on double action hydraulic press was brought forward. The main influential factors of precision forming quality were analyzed after the forming process had been simulated by using finite element method（FEM）. These factors include die structure, web thickness and web position. A method used to evaluate the forming quality was established, which investigated the maximal forming load, the metal filling rate and the material damage factor. The FEM simulations of half axle gears precision forging were evaluated by this method. The results show that the best forming quality can be achieved when the punches were added with bosses, the web located at the middle plant of the gear, and the web thickness was 30 percent of the inner hole diameter. Verification experiments taking the above optimized parameters were performed on a 7.8 MN double action hydraulic press. The trial products were formed well. And their geometric precision meets the demand. The verification result shows that the optimization of the influential factors, according to the simulations and the evaluation method, can improve the forming quality. The new structure of precision forging die-set and the new evaluation method guarantee a high forming quality ofhalfaxel gears.

FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF MULTISTAGE WARM/HOT FORMING FOR OUTER RACE

A multistage warm/hot forming is simulated for the cross grove outer race ofconstant velocity joint, using a thermo-mechanical coupled rigid viscoplastic finite element method,and specially some problem for process development and die design are analyzed. A forming testshows that computed results have good agreement with experimental results. Above obtained resultscan be applied to development of multistage warm/hot forming process and die design for outer race.

Warm Forged Medium Carbon V Steel

Nowadays there is a continuous demand,particularly from the automotive industry,for cheaper,lighter and more reliable components.It is not surprising then that steel research has been focused during the last decades in new qualities and processes.This paper is dealing with the use of vanadium microalloyed steels on one of those new processes,warm forging.For its low precipitation temperature and its recognised ability to strengthen steel microstructures via austenite grain growth control,precipitation hardening and interference of the static recrystallization process,vanadium in microalloyed steels seem to be an appropriate candidate for warm forging.