There are many terms that are used in forging, some are only known in the trade but some are more universal.

We have listed just a few and will explain what they mean.

Various Forging Terms used 

Heat forging       this is when an amount of forging stock is placed in a furnace at any one time.

Hot forging         this can also be known as hot working, it deforms an alloy at a temperature above its recrystallization point.

Heat resistant steel         this is a steel designed for application at a higher temperature

Hollow forging   This is the process for forging rings or tubes

Hot shortness   Lack of ductility when the metal is hot

Hot Trimming    When the metal is in the trimming process, the excess metal is removed

Hub       The centre of a forging and forms part of the body of forging

Isothermal forging          This is a hot forging process where a constant temperature is maintained during the forging process

Knockout            This is a mechanism for releasing the pieces from a die

Liftout                 This is also the same as a knockout

Mill scale            The heavy oxcide layer that is formed during the heated forging of steel

Nesting               Multiple pieces in a forging die design

Rib                       A flat but usually with a draft thin portion of forging

Shoe                    This is a holder used as a support for portions of forging and trimming dies

Strain Rate         This is the rate at which metal is deformed

Temperature Forging     Forging stock temperature just ahead of being forged

Thermal Cracks               Metal ruptures set up by stresses due to thermal differentials

Tolerance           A design characteristic from a specification

Tongs                  A metal holder to handle hot forgings

Tool Steel           A higher grade of steel made for use in tools and dies

There are many more forging specifications and terms that are used in day-to-day forging life.