Automotive Forgings - Powder Leads to Higher Precision

The consistent quality and good mechanical properties of hot forgings have been used to advantage by designers for many years. Forging developments giving improved material utilization and closer dimensional tolerance are successful for specific applications. A new process, powder forging, has the potential to provide precision forgings for a wide variety of components. Combining the advantages of conventional powder metallurgy with those of hot forging, it produces forgings of close tolerance and fine detail with properties comparable to wrought material. The process gives scope for the reduction or elimination of machining, and already a variety of components have been made and successfully tested.