Cold heading
Overview of cold heading
This is a technology that shapes metals at room temperature under high pressure. It increases the strength of the material, enables precise shapes, requires less post-processing, and is suitable for cost reduction and the manufacture of high-quality products.This method is primarily carried out using a horizontal, multi-stage forging machine called a former.
Characteristics of cold heading
Former has the following characteristics:
- With a built-in cutting and transfer mechanism, continuous automation is possible from material input to the final process.
- High-speed production of tens to hundreds of units per minute is possible.
- Continuous automated production results in less variation in processing accuracy.
Cold heading process
The general process for cold heading is as follows:
- Material preparationWe prepare specially adjusted materials such as steel conforming to SWCH standards.
- CuttingCut the material to the specified dimensions.
- Insertion into the moldThe cut material is inserted into the mold.
- moldingThe following processing is performed while applying high pressure within the mold:
- Extrusion
- Upsetting
- Piercing
- FinishingFinishing work will be performed as needed.
Advantages of cold heading
- Reducing material lossMaterial waste is very minimal, which helps keep costs down.
- High precision processingBecause it suppresses distortion caused by heat, it enables high processing accuracy.
- high strengthThe internal structure is refined and fiber flow is formed, which improves the strength of the product.
- High-speed productionIts fast processing speed and high productivity make it suitable for mass production.
- surface qualityHigh surface quality is achieved, and additional finishing is often unnecessary.
Challenges of cold heading
- Initial costBecause molds need to be manufactured, there will be initial costs.
- Equipment adjustmentSetting up and adjusting the processing equipment takes a certain amount of time.
- Unsuitable for small-scale productionBecause mold making is required, this method is not suitable for small-volume production.
Applications of cold heading
Cold heading is widely used in the manufacture of automotive parts, fasteners, and other mass-produced industrial parts. In recent years, production methods that utilize the characteristics of formers have become increasingly important in order to meet the needs for higher precision, production of complex-shaped parts, labor saving, and unmanned operation.
Cold heading is a crucial processing technique for efficiently mass-producing high-quality parts. A major characteristic of this method is its ability to produce highly accurate and high-strength products while maximizing the material's properties.