Isothermal Forging of Precision Metal Powder Components.
Abstract:
The program was aimed at developing a process to produce complex shaped high performance components at reduced costs. The component, the cover for the M85 model .50 caliber machine gun, was creep forged to near net shape to eliminate many finish machining operations. The process employed minimum deformation type dies operating in the temperature range of 1300 to 1450F and using the superplastic behavior of fine grained, as-received and pretreated 46XX prealloyed powders. Process variables of die temperature, forging pressure and time as well as preform treatments, including loose powder, were investigated. Die temperature was found to be the major variable. Forgeability was found to be related to grain size, however, near theoretical density forgings were produced using as-received commercial powder and forging parameters of 1550-1600F die temperature and 20 KSI pressure. Modified author abstract