Are you curious about the steps involved in creating a forged aluminum part? It's a process that transforms raw metal into a strong, precisely shaped component.

The process of aluminum forging typically begins with selecting the appropriate aluminum alloy. This raw material, often in the form of billets or bars, is then heated in a furnace to a precise temperature, usually between 750°F and 900°F (400°C and 480°C), depending on the alloy. This heat makes the aluminum malleable. The heated aluminum is then placed into a die cavity within a forging press or hammer. Force is applied to the aluminum, causing it to flow and conform to the shape of the die. For complex shapes, multiple forging steps or different types of forging (e.g., open-die, closed-die, or ring rolling) may be used. After forging, the component often undergoes heat treatment (quenching and aging) to achieve its final desired mechanical properties, followed by finishing operations and rigorous inspection to ensure it meets specifications.

This detailed process is at the heart of what we do at SWA Forging. We meticulously control each stage, from heating the aluminum alloy to the precise temperature to applying the correct amount of force in our advanced forging equipment. Our goal is to ensure optimal grain flow and material integrity. Following the forging, our precise heat treatment processes are critical for developing the required strength and durability, especially for components like landing gear parts, where deviations are simply not an option.