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The Forge of Vulcan - Diego Valazquez (1599-1660)
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The Origins
Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal by using compressive forces and is categorised according to the temperature at which it is performed: "cold", "warm", or "hot" forging
As with the cultural history of man, the history of metals springs from the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates (modern Iraq), called Mesopotamia. These people, a mixture of many ethnic backgrounds were the true founders of metallurgy as we know it today.
The earliest signs of metalworking date back to about 4500 B.C.; possession of metals was highly regarded as a sign of wealth and the Romans and the Greeks even had gods dedicated to the forge; the most notable Roman god was Vulcan, a talented blacksmith who built himself a forge under Mount Etna on the island of Sicily.
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Developments
One of the most major developments came from the combination of the Roman discovery of water power and the forging of metals. Water power was used to operate bellows and mechanical hammers. This significant breakthrough came into use between the 10th and 12th century A.D. with some water operated hammers still being used into the 20th century.
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18th century water-powered drop forge
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Forging as an art form began with the wish to create decorative objects from precious metals. Today, forging is a major global industry that has considerably contributed to the progress of man.
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Methods of forging
There are several forging methods; some of them are listed below:
- Cold forging is used in the production of parts that are symmetrical and typically improves mechanical properties of the finished pieces.
- Warm forging is a cost-effective method offering benefits such as lower tooling and press loads, increased steel ductility. Warm forging also eliminates the need to anneal prior to forging. The process is usually performed when steel is anywhere from just above room temperature to a temperature below recrystallization.
- Hot forging methods involve recrystallization and deformation of steel simultaneously. The temperature used for hot forging is specific to the recrystallization temperature of the metal being used.
- Drop forging is the process of hammering hot metal into dies by dropping a falling or a powered hammer on to it.
- Press forging works by slowly applying a continuous pressure of force (unlike drop-hammer forging) and usually only deforming the surfaces of the metal which is in contact with the hammer, the interior remaining comparatively un-deformed.
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