Man forging with a hammer

Forging is a process of using excessive force to shape or mold metal into a desired form. In open-die forging, a stationary anvil is used to deform the workpiece through blunt force by a hammer. It is called open-die forging because there is space between the two dies for the workpiece to move instead of being enclosed.

This is why the operator needs to position the workpiece in order to get the desired result. Usually the dies are flat in shape, but depending on specialized demand, they can have a special design on the surface. Open die forging is different from closed die forging in the sense that the workpiece is not enclosed by the dies; in fact, the dies act as tools to mold or transform a workpiece into a desired shape. Here are a few reasons why open-die forging is used:

The biggest advantage of using open die forging is that there is almost little or no tool cost. Unlike other methods used for the forging of steel, the open die forging method only requires a hammer. This means that by adopting this method, you won't have to incur any tooling cost.

The adoption of the open forging technique to shape metals can significantly reduce the lead time. 

If you want to develop products or steel items that are characterized by enhanced strength and are comparatively more durable, then you should definitely opt for open die forging. Open die forging helps produce items that are of greater quality than any machine-made or welded products.

Open die forging has the ability to shape and mold the metal structure as per your desired shape. It does so by breaking up the cast structure to produce finer grains. Open die forging also enhances the mechanical properties of the metal, and it consolidates gas porosity and low density areas by improving the density and bringing the grain flow in alignment. Open die forging enables you to produce custom metal pieces with unique shapes. 

Some other reasons for using the open die forging technique include continuous grain flow and durable metals. It also helps produce metals that have improved microstructures and also improved fatigue resistance. 

The open die forging technique is considered to be more appropriate for creating large parts in huge quantities, usually tons. Some of these metals include forged rollers, forged long shafts, and forged cylinders.