Selection of optimal parting line for forging in various equipments using numerical analysis

Abstract

Abstract While designing of dies for forging, one of the most important criteria which has to be considered is the selection of parting line/plane. Selection and location of the parting line greatly affect the grain flow direction in the component, load which is coming on the dies and it also determines the location of the burr which is formed in the component after trimming. The main objective of this paper is to select a suitable parting line/plane, for hot forging a circular component in mechanical press and drop hammer. For studying the effect of parting line, four dies are designed with different parting lines (top parting line, bottom parting line, central parting and inverted dies) location for hot forging of an automotive component coupling flange. Two commonly used equipments (mechanical press and drop hammer) are considered for determining the effect of parting line location on load requirement which finally decides the die wear and die life. Numerical analysis is carried out with these dies using a finite element based software DEFORM-3D. Top parting line gave best results with minimum load, minimum effective-stress and favourable grain flow in mechanical press. Whereas, in case of hammer, inverted dies yielded in minimum load, minimum effective stress and favourable grain flow.