Impression-die Forging: the route, the tolerances it holds, materials and design tips, with an indicative cost. One of 56 processes in the free finder.
Bulk formingFamily
+/-0.3mmTypical tol.
5Route steps
211Parts in finder
Impression-die (closed-die) forging squeezes hot metal into a shaped die cavity so the grain follows the form. It gives high strength and good repeatability.
At a glance
When to use it, and when not
Best for
Safety- and fatigue-critical parts in volume, such as connecting rods, crankshafts and hand tools.
Watch for
High die cost, draft and flash to design around, and a minimum viable volume to amortise tooling.
Step by step
The typical route
Raw material to finished part. Steps vary with material, volume and tolerance; this is the free route from the finder.
Heat
Heat the slug to forging temperature.
Tooling Furnace Tolerance - Lead -
Impression forge
Force the metal into shaped die cavities so the grain follows the part.
Tooling Forge dies Tolerance - Lead -
Trim flash
Trim flash and pierce webs.
Tooling Trim die Tolerance - Lead -
Heat-treat
Normalise, quench and temper to spec.
Tooling Furnace Tolerance - Lead -
Machine & MPI
Machine functional features, then crack-detect.
Tooling CNC Tolerance - Lead -
Precision
Tolerances it can hold
TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials it suits
Grade
Why it suits this
AISI 4140
Workhorse, heat-treatable
AISI 4340
Higher fatigue/strength
Microalloy 36MnVS4
Air-cooled, skips Q+T
Design
Design tips
A few general pointers for Impression-die Forging. The full, part-specific DFM list is in the dossier.
Thin ribs / deep cavities.Respect forgeability limits.
Sharp fillets.Add generous radii.
Cost
What it costs
Best strength and fatigue (grain follows the part). The die (6k to 20k USD) is why part one is expensive.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for your part at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$180 to 420per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on this process and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
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Impression-die (closed-die) forging squeezes hot metal into a shaped die cavity so the grain follows the form. It gives high strength and good repeatability. The typical route is: Heat; Impression forge; Trim flash; Heat-treat; Machine & MPI. Safety- and fatigue-critical parts in volume, such as connecting rods, crankshafts and hand tools.
What does Impression-die Forging cost per part?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $180 to 420 per part at low volume and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. Model estimates, not quotes.
What tolerance can Impression-die Forging hold?
Typically about +/-0.3 mm, tighter with extra finishing operations at higher cost.
What materials suit Impression-die Forging?
Common choices are AISI 4140 (Workhorse, heat-treatable); AISI 4340 (Higher fatigue/strength); Microalloy 36MnVS4 (Air-cooled, skips Q+T).
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
